Lawmaker tries to squeeze freedom of info bill during canvass deliberations

A party-list lawmaker who supports the Freedom of Information Bill on Monday tried squeezing in the issue during the House plenary session to discuss rules on presidential and vice-presidential canvassing. At the start of the session, shortly before 5 p.m., Citizens Battle Against Crime and Corruption (Cibac) party-list Rep. Emmanuel Joel Villanueva took the floor and asked House Speaker Prospero Nograles if the chamber could ratify the landmark measure. Villanueva stressed that the Senate had already ratified its own Freedom of Information Bill last February, while the House failed to do so as it went on a break the same month. "I have been pushing and lobbying for this measure in my three terms as congressman... I don't think it will take a minute or two," said Villanueva, son of twice defeated presidential aspirant Bro. Eddie Villanueva. In response, Nograles said the House would first have to complete canvassing votes for the two top posts in the Philippines before entertaining any moves in connection with legislation at the House. "We will take up legislative matters after we do our constitutional duty to canvass the votes for president and vice president," he said. The bill will pave the way for the full disclosure of all government transactions involving public interest. When Villanueva asked Nograles if the latter could assure that the ratification of the bill would certainly be tackled after the joint canvassing is completed, the House Speaker replied: "Yes," much to the delight of Villanueva. Bayan Party-list Rep. Teodoro "Teddy" Casino later took the floor to express similar sentiments that sought to give priority of the ratification of the Freedom of Information bill. But instead of responding to Casino's reiteration, Nograles suspended for several minutes the session, which has yet to resume as of this posting. - GMANews.TV