Senator Robin Padilla is prepared to push the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the Senate to fight fake news and disinformation.
Padilla said the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media which he chairs has already conducted hearings on how to fight fake news, even as he noted the bill has a better chance of passing if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. certifies it as urgent.
“Lagi po akong nakatingin doon sa pagka na-certify ‘yan ng pangulo, mabilis.”
“Meron na po kaming hearing diyan, naka-schedule na po. Pero siyempre lagi po akong nakatingin doon sa pagka na-certify ‘yan ng pangulo, mabilis,” the legislator explained.
At least four bills on FOI have been filed in the Senate.
These include:
* SBN-100: People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2022 by Sen. Grace Poe
* SBN-933: People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2022 by Sen. Joel Villanueva
* SBN-1006: People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2022 by Sen. Sonny Angara
* SBN-1101: People’s Freedom of Information Act by Sen. Bong Revilla
Padilla said the bill has a better chance of becoming a law if the President informs the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) that the proposed measure is a priority.
Once the FOI bill becomes law, the lawmaker said, he is confident all government agencies will comply – and this will be a big help in fighting fake news.
“Pagka naging batas yan e maobliga na pong sumunod diyan lahat na ahensya ng gobyerno.”
“Pagka naging batas yan e maobliga na pong sumunod diyan lahat na ahensya ng gobyerno,” the senator noted.
“Dapat po kasama sa LEDAC ‘yan kasi naniniwala ako na pagka parte ng LEDAC, may pakpak,” he concluded.
