Angara elected to international body vs corruption

Sen. Edgardo Angara has been elected to the board of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), an international body formally launched by legislators from 80 countries the other day in Ottawa to fight corruption on a global scale.

Angara’s election to the GOPAC board came after he spoke on congressional initiatives to help fight corruption through a package of legislative measures at the Global Conference on Parliamentarians Against Corruption which was held from Oct. 13 to 15.

Angara and Rep. Oscar Gozos of Batangas and Leovigildo Banaag of Agusan del Norte also actively participated in the plenary discussions on fighting official corruption and enhancing good governance.

The board of directors of GOPAC is chaired by Canadian MP John Williams, who was also the driving force behind the anti-corruption conference in this city.

Roughly 170 parliamentarians from developed economies and developing countries attended the conference.

GOPAC’s main agenda is to build an international network of parliamentarians that will fight official corruption through legislation and advocacy.

The GOPAC has established a nerve center here to assist in the global fight against corruption, said Angara.

It will conduct research and monitor efforts of member parliaments to curb corruption and promote good governance.

It will also link GOPAC with similar and like-minded organizations, he added.

A website is being developed by GOPAC to facilitate information sharing and more international conferences shall be held to discuss fresh and creative initiatives in fighting corruption. – Efren Danao