Party-list group Bayan Muna vowed Tuesday to refile the controversial Freedom of Information (FoI) bill in the 15th Congress, but said the piece they would file would be much stronger than that whose ratification hit a snag due to the absence of quorum during the last legislative session in the House of Representatives.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casino – whose party was allied with Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel Villar during last election – said they would refile the bill in stronger form once the 15th Congress opens.

“Definitely, Bayan Muna will re-file the FoI bill. But we're planning to strengthen some of the provisions that may have been watered down in the House final version and the bicameral conference committee report,” Casiño said.

He said that they would immediately solicit co-authors once 15th Congress buckles down to work.
And just like in the 14th Congress, Casino said, Bayan Muna expects the bill draw support across political parties in the 15 Congress.

“I presume that next Congress, we will be working with the Liberal Party, National Party, even the Nationalist People’s Coalition and Lakas on this one,” he said.

The FoI bill was not ratified by the House of Representatives after Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo questioned the quorum during the last legislative session of Congress. Speaker Prospero Nograles declared the session’s adjournment after a roll call showed lack of quorum with only 128 out of 268 lawmakers present on the floor.

Nograles said it is unfair to blame him for the failure to pass the bill as he has also been pushing for the proposed measure’s approval.