PCIJ posts ‘received’ access-to-information request letters sent to DOJ, other agencies

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) on Saturday night showed copies of "received" access-to-information request letters sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other agencies last August.

The PCIJ posted the documents online after DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, through Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, denied that his office received the joint request letter from the PCIJ and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) for data on the ongoing campaign of the Duterte administration against illegal drugs.

In the post, the PCIJ told Aguirre to "check your facts."

"People may live or evade or parse the truth, but documents often speak with more certitude and integrity," the PCIJ said in the article.

The PCIJ said Aguirre's staff at the Office of the Secretary received the letter request on August 9, 2016, and was forwarded to the DOJ Planning and Management Service headed by Director Ryan Thomas on August 24.

"It might help Aguirre to know that Thomas's contact number is 526-2747," the PCIJ added.

In a text message to GMA News Online on Saturday afternoon, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said he received a copy of the data request letter from the PCIJ and FLAG.

He said Abella should be asked by the media during office hours only so he can check with the secretaries' offices.

Below are screencaps of the PCIJ-FLAG letters, including the one sent to the DOJ by the PCIJ.

—ALG, GMA News