'Absence of FOI Act hampers investigation'

MANILA, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his call for the administration to support the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in order to unearth the alleged scams of the previous administration more effectively.

Cayetano lamented that the administration has failed to investigate the anomalies of the previous administration and file the appropriate charges against the personalities involved because of the absence of an FOI law.

“In all of these scams, what we need first is fact-finding. Let the truth be made known to everyone and reveal the documents. The problem is there is no FOI act to make this an easy task,” Cayetano said over the weekend.

He cited the recently revealed anomalies in the use of billions of funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) by the previous administration as an example of what the administration should be investigating.

Cayetano said that the PCSO scam is most likely part of the bigger “Hello, Garci” controversy involving former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo and her allies.

He said the administration could start by creating a committee to investigate the PCSO fund scam, even though the Senate will be conducting its own probe of the issue next week.

“Aren’t the appointees of the former president who are under question here? So assign a committee to go through and review the documents. Create a committee, give them powers, give them the mandate, make it clear to them what their mission is and ask them to investigate,” Cayetano said.

He added that while there are countless “political land mines” left behind by the previous administration meant to cover up its wrongdoings, the Aquino administration should not lose sight of what must be done.

“It’s difficult for this administration to deal with the past administration and its land mines but all of that must not be an excuse to not conduct in-depth investigations. For the administration, one of the main priorities should be investigation,” he said.

“I think the desire is there but I don’t know why the action is not. But without a thorough investigation, I cannot judge whether an anomalous deal transpired. That is what they need to prove or disprove,” he added.

Cayetano reiterated that President Aquino, who has made the battle against corruption his key advocacy, should understand that the passage of the FOI Act is critical for the success of his agenda.

He said the FOI would improve the state of press freedom and transparency in government, “the two things that shall empower our citizenry to collaborate with the government in aiming for a unified goal of national development.”

“PNoy was aware of this when he voted for the measure then as senator, why the change of heart today?” he said, noting the continued reluctance of the President to certify the bill as priority.