Press Release
September 5, 2007

PROTECT PEOPLE�fS RIGHT TO KNOW:
Senate shuns gag order policy

Senate President Manny Villar introduced Senate Resolution 125 "expressing the sense of the Senate that a gag order policy is an assault to the constitutional guarantee on the people's right to information and the state policies on transparency and accountability."

This came following the reported "gag order" imposed on Cabinet officials regarding controversial issues which are of national interest.

The Senate President, who is also president of the Nacionalista Party, stated that the significance of the citizens' right to know is manifested in various provisions of the fundamental law:

Article III, Section 3: "(T)he right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law;"

Article II, Section 28: "(S)ubject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest;" and

Article II, Section 27: "(T)he State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption."

Villar said, "The gag order on government officials to speak on matters of public interest is a slap on the constitutional guarantee on our right to information and an insult to the twin tenets of transparency and accountability ordained in the 1987 Constitution."

He stressed, "The people's right to official information is an indispensable element of a functioning democracy."

"The significance of the citizens' right to know is reflected in the jurisprudence laid down by the Supreme Court stating, 'There can be no realistic perception by the public of the nation's problems, not a meaningful democratic decision making if they are denied access to information of general interest,'" Villar said.

His resolution further stated, "The free flow of information about the affairs of government paves the way for a healthy debate in public policy, promotes transparency and accountability in government, and serves as vital safeguard against corruption, irregularities and illegal activities."

"Access to official information exposes the vested interests involved, leading to the identification of corrupt officials, and in the long run, the clean-up of the bureaucracy."

"The government and its officials must not be onion-skinned as 'public office is a public trust' and anyone who accepts to serve the civil service is presumed to be in solidarity with the assertions of democracy's 'national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide open,'" the Senate President emphasized in his resolution.

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