Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)

Requesting the government to release the transcript, the minutes of the meeting, and other relevant documents of the bilateral talks of President Fidel V. Ramos with China and his counterparts. 

It is my constitutional right to know
Under Art. II, Sec. 28 of the Constitution. "Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest."

August 16, 2019

Dear Manuel Ernico,

Thank you for your request dated Aug 09, 2019 01:50:49 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for West Philippine Sea/South China Sea Treaty..

We received your request on Aug 09, 2019 01:50:49 AM and will respond on or before Aug 30, 2019 01:50:49 AM, 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/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERGQS00MjcxNzkyNjg3MTQM, for request with ticket number #DFA-427179268714.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

Dear Mr. Dulay,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Aug 09, 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, 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. The information you are requesting is a document belonging to this category. DFA is, therefore, 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 received 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