MANILA — As the world marks International Anti-Corruption Day, CIBAC Party-list Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva is once again urging Congress to act decisively by passing the long-delayed Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

“On this special day, we renew our call for the swift passage of the long-overdue FOI bill,” Villanueva declared. “The passage of the FOI law is the most appropriate response to all the corruption scandals and exposes that shocked us in the past months and years. If we will not pass this now, we have already missed the point of it all. We will easily and immediately backslide to that miry clay of corruption again.”

Villanueva emphasized that the FOI bill is a critical tool in empowering citizens to hold public officials accountable. “Questionable budget insertions, ghost projects and substandard infrastructures will be easily spotted by a watching public. This is the most opportune time to give birth to this legislation,” he said.

He added, “The FOI law will give life to the principles of transparency, accountability and people empowerment which are the best antidote to corruption in the government. No administration, even how well-intentioned, can fight corruption alone. The insatiable appetite for stealing in the government can only be counter by the perpetual oversight of an informed, empowered and vigilant citizenry. That is the gap the FOI bill will address.”

CIBAC has been advocating for the FOI bill since 2002. In the current 20th Congress, the party-list filed House Bill 634, also known as the People’s Freedom of Information Act. The proposed measure establishes a legal presumption in favor of public access to government-held information, with only narrowly defined exceptions.

Under the bill, documents such as asset declarations of public officials, procurement contracts, bidding results, government loans, and infrastructure project plans would be made accessible to the public. Exemptions would apply only to information concerning national security, diplomacy, law enforcement, privacy, and trade secrets—provided these are properly justified. Courts would retain the authority to override such exemptions in favor of public interest.

The legislation also outlines clear procedures and timelines for responding to information requests, with penalties including fines and potential criminal prosecution for violations.

“For decades, corruption has persisted not because we lack laws, but because we lack access,” Villanueva stressed. “Every corruption scandal shares the same pattern: the public learns of the stealing post-factum, only after the fact; it does very little to prevent it. The FOI bill is a potent preventive weapon, the missing piece in the country’s anti-corruption arsenal.”

Ending his statement with a heartfelt appeal, he said, “Ako po ay nananawagan, iregalo po natin ito sa ating bayan, ipasa na po natin ang FOI bill.”

Since 2003, the United Nations has observed December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day to highlight the global fight against corruption and promote transparency and integrity in governance.

📷 CIBAC