Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)

Good day ma'am/sir! 

I would like to request for the copy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's letter to President George W. Bush requesting President Bush not to label the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as a foreign terrorist organization.

Thank you!

August 16, 2019

Dear Rac Xavier,

Thank you for your request dated Aug 14, 2019 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for The Letter of President Arroyo to President Bush.

We received your request on Aug 14, 2019 and will respond on or before Sep 04, 2019 02:34:16 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERGQS00MTE2MDAyNDg1MTIM, for request with ticket number #DFA-411600248512.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Dear Mr. Cabilogan,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Aug 14, 2019 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, upon further evaluation of your request, the letter that you are asking for is integral to Notes Verbale exchanged between the Philippines and the United States of America. Please be advised that the “Inventory of Exemptions to Executive Order Number 2 S. 2016” Section 2 states as follows:

“Privileged information relating to national security, defense or international relations... information, record, or document that must be kept secret in the interest of national defense and security... Diplomatic negotiations and other information required to be kept secret in the conduct of foreign affairs...”

The need to keep diplomatic communications inviolable is recognized in international law as well as in the Inventory of Exceptions to Executive Order No. 2, the order which operationalized the right to information. DFA, therefore, is constrained by law from issuing copies of the subject documents to the public.

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you receive this letter. 

We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Best regards