Poe calls FOI bill a weapon for democracy

MANILA - Following calls for greater transparency, the Senate committee on public information and mass media is hopeful the freedom of information (FOI) bill will pass the 16th Congress. Committee Chair Senator Grace Poe said the first public hearing on the FOI bill is set on September 4. Poe is calling the FOI bill a weapon for democracy. The bill empowers people to demand accountability from government by giving the public the right to access information on government transactions. Under the bill, any government official who fails to publicly disclose transactions involving public interest will face criminal liability. ANC News Now, August 27, 2013