SMARTING from their defeat in the last May 12 election, the opposition in the outgoing Sangguniang Panlungsod attempted to pass a “midnight ordinance” that would give them blanket access to the records of the council and the local government even after they leave their seats by July 1.

The five-page Draft Ordinance No. 0-920 ostensibly aims to strengthen the implementation of Freedom of Information (FOI) by providing a mechanism for the “disclosure of public records in the City of Dagupan and providing penalties for violation thereof.”

Paragraph 1 of Section 5. Right to access information of the draft ordinance states: “Every person shall have the right to access, examine, and copy a public record. This right shall include the right to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record.”

The right to copy a public record shall include the right to take photographs, video or sound recordings, or to make physical copies through printing, photocopying, or other similar means.

Paragraph 2 of Section 5 reads: “No party requesting for information shall be required to provide any personal information, except when it is reasonably needed to send either the information sought or a notice for a denial of the request.”

However, the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia, which did not undergo committee evaluation, was not passed as the minority councilors boycotted last week’s session, and the seven-member majority was one man short of a quorum.

Minority Councilor Jeslito Seen defended the boycott of his group, saying they see through the ulterior motives of the outgoing councilors.

Under the national FOI Executive Order, the public’s right to information remains subject to restrictions in consideration of privacy laws, national security, and law enforcement, among other legal limitations. (Leonardo Micua)

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