THERE are exceptions in the Freedom of Information executive order issued by the Executive department that are not warranted, Senator Grace Poe said on Monday.
“There are legitimate exceptions, but there are some that I think do not need to be included [in the exceptions],” Poe said.
“That is why we need to study this carefully, we have to make specific mention of those in the new law so that these will override the executive order.”
One of the 166 exceptions is the release of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth of officials, which is among the main reasons the public is pushing for an FOI law.
The exceptions also include disclosing legitimate techniques for law enforcement investigations, confidential sources, trade secrets, bank records, certain court records, and detailed reports on how congressional funds are disbursed.
But Poe said the Senate was poised to override the unwarranted exceptions, adding a strong FOI law crafted by legislators was needed to stamp out corruption and ensure transparency and accountability in the bureaucracy.
She said while the FOI advocates an open government, the 166 exceptions against disclosure was just too stringent and might be subject to certain abuses.
She said the Senate panel would fully scrutinize the exceptions in Executive Order No. 2 to guarantee that the exceptions were not used to cover up a crime, wrongdoing, graft or corruption.
Under Senate Bill 159, or An Act Implementing the People’s Right to Information and the Constitutional Policies of Full Public Disclosure and Honesty in the Public Service filed by Poe, the public would be granted access to records or information that are under the control of the government.
The bill lists 13 major exceptions and the information may be withheld if the information requested would jeopardize national security, foreign relations, law enforcement operations, trade and economic secrets, an individual’s right to privacy, privileged information as considered in judicial proceedings, or information made in the executive sessions of Congress and those covered by presidential communications privilege.
These exceptions in the Senate bill were included in the FOI EO, but the Executive deemed it necessary to include a roster of exceptions for non-disclosure, but the resource persons in the hearing expressed apprehension on it.
Usability of information available to the public and easy access would also be considered by the lawmakers in the final draft of the measure, Poe said.