Villar: MR presents fresh argument on the significance of Internet
in policy making

Senate President Manny Villar today said the Motion for Reconsideration (MR) filed by the Senate, while extensively presenting arguments why the Supreme Court should reverse its decision expanding the coverage of the executive privilege, presents the significant role of information technology in policy making.

"The MR the Senate filed with the Supreme Court is not simply a pleading of legal arguments to examine the danger and crippling precedent of the Neri decision, it also presents an imprimatur on the great leaps and bounds of internet as a tool in legislation," Villar said.

In disputing the SC decision on the non-publication of the institution's Rule of Procedure Governing Inquiries In Aid of Legislation, Villar cited that aside from the regular newspaper publications made by the Senate in 1992, 1995 and 2006, the Senate posted it in the internet since 1996 and through the Senate website since 2001.

"The internet is an effective mechanism of communication and information dissemination. Certainly, this is one of the greatest inventions of this generation," Villar said.

The MR cited four reasons why internet helps in effective legislation: 1) that the internet could better perform the function of communicating the laws to the people 2) that it is more easily available 3) that it has a wider subscriber or readership and 4) that it can be read or accessed anytime of the day and night.

The Senate President cited the fresh approach of the Motion for Reconsideration as it encourages implementation of Republic Act 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Law.

"The publication of the Senate Rules in the Senate website is under the coverage of the E-Commerce Act of 2000, which provides that electronic documents shall have the legal effect, validity or enforceability as any other document or legal writing and they are likewise admissible in evidence in any legal proceedings," he said.