By Leila B. Salaverria Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, PhilippinesAdvocates of the freedom of information (FOI) bill are marching to Malacaang on Monday to press President Aquino to push for the passage of the bill in Congress.

The Right to Know, Right Now Coalition will march on Mendiola on Monday afternoon to ask President Aquino to certify the FOI bill as urgent, noting that the measure pending in the House of Representatives already incorporated the Palaces proposed amendments.

We believe Malacaang stated its position, supported the bill, endorsed its own amendments and said it wanted debates to happen. We appeal to them to take that commitment one more step, said Nepomuceno Malaluan, the coalitions co-convenor, adding that a certification would be the only way debates on the bills provisions could start.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, a co-author of the FOI bill, earlier said that a miracle from the President in the form of a certification would be the bills best hope for becoming a law.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casio, who has withdrawn his authorship of the FOI bill on account of the Palace amendments, also joined calls for a certification as he accused Malacaang of stalling the bills passage even after its proposed exemptions were put in.

Certification needed

Casio said the certification was needed so the bill could move forward and he could propose amendments to remove the Palace proposals from the current version of the measure.

He also said that Aquino, who attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, could not boast of good governance given how he has regarded the bill.

How can President Aquino look world leaders in the eye and say his government is for transparency and accountability but he is the one primarily responsible for watering down the FOI bill? Casio said in a statement.

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Freedom of information bill advocates to march to Palace Monday