EO on FOI expected until next week—Andanar

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar. (PCOO photo)

MANILA—“The best days are yet to come.”

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said this as he announced over government-run Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday that the long-awaited Freedom of Information (FOI) bill is being finalized and is expected within the week.

“This week, watch out for the draft of the Executive Order for the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act which should be released within the week. This is the President’s commitment to the public,” Andanar said.

According to Andanar, he reminded President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the assumption of command of the Philippine National Police about the FOI bill.

He said he had the chance to remind the President of his commitment to the media and to the people. “This Executive Order is being drafted and fine-tuned as we speak and with God’s grace, we can announce it this week or next week.”

The PCO secretary also said that a Presidential Task Force against media killings is being put together. “We hope that this would allay fears in the media and the public and grant them assurance that the killing of journalists would stop.”

Andanar said the document pertaining to the Task Force against media killings is being prepared by the Legal Department of the PCO and the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Earlier, Malacanang released a statement condemning the ambush of a journalist in Surigao City who was a staunch anti-drug advocate, known for his hard-hitting radio commentaries against suspected drug lords and other personalities involved in the illicit drug trade.