House suspends session without tackling FOI bill

A brief tension gripped the House of Representatives Monday afternoon when the leadership suspended its session abruptly without discussing the Freedom of Information bill that has been pending before it for months. At 4:10 in the afternoon, after House Speaker Prospero Nograles banged the gavel to signal the opening of the session, Majority Leader Arthur Defensor moved that they transfer the date of sine die adjournment from May 31 to June 4. Nograles then banged the gavel to approve the motion and immediately closed the session. Representatives Bienvenido Abante, Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Riza Hontiveros, Erin Tañada and Teofisto Guingona III tried to stop the closing of the session by raising a point of order, but they were ignored. Abante even noted that the microphone was switched off. In an interview with reporters, Abante expressed disappointment as Defensor assured them Monday last week that the Freedom of Information would be ratified this week. The measure is expected to solidify the Filipinos’ right to gain access to government records. “We were ignored and [the] microphone was turned off. Last Monday, assurance was given to us by Art Defensor that we are going to ratify this bill," he said. - Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMANews.TV