House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor motions to ratify the Freedom of Information Act, which was objected to by Camiguin representative Pedro Romualdo. Romualdo is prepared to be ‘condemned’ for blocking the passage of the proposed legislation as he questioned the lack of quorum in the chamber ‘as a matter of principle’.
The clip also contains footage of two house members, Mandaluyong Congressman Neptali Gonzales Jr. and Valenzuela Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo who were seated in the session hall, but were among those listed absent during the roll call. CIBAC Partylist Representative Joel Villanueva and Manila Congressman Bienvenido Abante are seen defending the measure, while Akbayan lawmaker Riza Hontiveros appeals to Speaker Nograles to allow their motion compelling congressmen to attend the session.
Compostela Valley Congressman Manuel ‘Waykurat’ Zamora briefly injects humor during the debates but fails to convince the speaker to let him assist in arresting his colleagues, as Nograles puts an end to the 14th Congress with a resounding bang of the gavel. While house members honor themselves at their closing ceremonies, movers of the FOI bill mull their loss, and their next move.
— PCIJ