Malacañang’s draft of the “Freedom of Information (FOI) People’s Manual” has identified a total of 166 exceptions to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) No. 02 which mandates full disclosure of all offices under the executive branch. The exceptions were based on recommendations of the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General. As indicated in the draft manual, the list includes information pertaining to national security, executive privilege, personal records, and trade secrets. MB File Photo Presidential Communications Office (PCO) secretary Martin Andanar, however, said the list is still due for review by the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs. On top of the list is “information that directly relates to national security or defense and its revelation may cause grave damage to national security or internal or external defense of the state.” Also included in the FOI exemptions are information “pertaining [...]
