Palace, Ombudsman ink pact vs corruption

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the President (OP) and the Office of the Ombudsman signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to rationalize the government’s reform measures in weeding out bureaucratic corruption.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. signed the MOA with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on behalf of President Aquino.

They aim to implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Integrity Management Program (IMP).

The signing was held at Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang.

Ochoa said the signing of the MOA is one of the many steps the administration has taken and will continue to take to make good on government’s commitment to institutionalize good governance.

“In behalf of the OP, we would like to congratulate the people and organization behind this major initiative for successfully bringing together two important offices in order to strengthen and rationalize government initiatives against corruption,” he said.

Ochoa said the MOA aims to “concretize the President’s vision for a government that treads the straight and narrow path, or Tuwid na Daan.”

Morales said the partnership further inspires hope for the Philippines to foster a culture that rejects corruption and embraces the values of integrity, rule of law, sustainable development and inclusive growth. 

Under the MOA, the OP and the Office of the Ombudsman shall constitute a joint technical working group to draft a multi-stakeholder mechanism for implementation and review of the UNCAC as well as a project management committee that will provide overall direction and technical support to the agency implementers to attain a viable integrity management program.

The Philippines is a signatory to the UNCAC, which stipulates state obligations to comply with UN standards in the areas of prevention, criminalization, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange.