Lawmakers cry foul over list of 'absent' congressmen on FOI ratification

(Updated 3:19 p.m.) Some congressmen cried foul on Monday over their inclusion in the list of lawmakers who were absent when the roll call was made during the scheduled ratification of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill last Friday. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman said they have complained to the House Secretariat about their inclusion in the list of 139 congressmen who were not on the floor when the roll call was made before the adjournment of session. South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy and Rizal Rep. Jack Duavit said they were also present during Friday's session. The House leadership was unable to ratify the FOI bill — which had been pending in Congress for nine years — because there was no quorum. The House secretary-general said there were only 128 present. At least 135 are needed for a quorum. Last Saturday, Speaker Prospero Nograles — who is largely blamed for the non-ratification of the measure — released a list of names of 139 congressmen who were absent during the last day of session or who were present but weren't on the floor when the roll call was made. "I was there. Nag-complain nga ako sa secretariat (I complained to the secretariat)," Gonzales told GMANews.TV in a text message. "They will correct yata and will come out with a list of 130 members present na kasama ako." 'Hocus-pocus' In a text message to reporters, Hataman said he was condemning the "hocus-pocus" in the attendance of House members last Friday. "It seems that the leadership deliberately shaved the number of lawmakers who actually attended the session to ensure no quorum and kill the FOI bill. Adding insult to injury, my name was included among the members who were absent. That was totally false, untrue, and baseless," said Hataman. Hataman told GMANews.TV over the phone that he even raised his hand when his name was called during the roll call. He said the secretary-general should release a "clarificatory statement" on the matter. Pingoy said in a text message to GMANews.TV: "I was present sa plenary and should be counted. I will inquire about it." "I was there looking for more members," said Duavit, adding that his bill on paramedics, which he worked on for five years, was not ratified also because of lack of quorum. "It was to be my legacy," said Duavit, who is on his third and last term. A few hours after the release of the list, Nograles's staff said the name of Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez was wrongfully included in it. Golez's name has been taken out of the list. Last Sunday, Cibac Rep. Joel Villanueva — one of the staunchest defenders of the FOI bill — said at least 17 lawmakers including Gonzales, Hataman and Pingoy were included on Nograles' list even though they were actually on the floor when the roll call was made. "Pati footage sa mga cameras nandun mga yun (Camera footage will show they were there)," Villanueva said in a text message. Nograles, however, stood by the list, telling GMANews.TV on Sunday that "that's the secretariat record of those present on the floor or absent when roll call was made." Some 180 congressmen — more than enough to constitute a quorum — co-authored the FOI bill. In text messages to GMANews.TV, some co-authors of the measure admitted to being absent last Friday for varied reasons. 'Under the weather,' 'planned vacation' Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said he was "feeling under the weather" so he had to rest because he was developing a fever, sore throat, colds. "In fact, I have not attended [the] canvassing since Wednesday," he said. Another congressman from Cavite, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, said he had a "planned vacation" with his wife and three kids aged 12, 10 and 8 in Subic from Thursday to Saturday. "I never had the opportunity to have a vacation with my three children during the summer because of the elections. I could no longer reset it, since my eldest son Kiko will start his school tomorrow, and my other kids will start their classes on June 15," Barzaga said. Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, who is eyeing the Speakership post in the 15th Congress, said he came from the Palace because the Lakas-Kampi-CMD had a meeting about its plans for the 15th Congress. "I am in constant communication with Erin [Tañada, another author] because co-author din ako diyan, but the problem on my way there nag-adjourn," Suarez said. "I tried to catch up." Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said he was still in Tokyo where he will remain until Friday. Some authors of the FOI bill have vowed to refile it in the next Congress, which is expected to be friendlier to the measure as presidential frontrunner Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III has vowed to prioritize its approval once he assumes the presidency on June 30. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV