Palace, Ombudsman team up for anti-corruption programs

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang and the Office of the Ombudsman are now working together for the implementation of two anti-corruption programs that will further improve the fight against graft.

The Office of the President and the Ombudsman signed a memorandum of agreement last week, which aims to establish an implementation and review mechanism on the country’s compliance with its state obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

The agreement also seeks to institutionalize the Integrity Management Program (IMP) as an output of the harmonization of the corruption prevention programs of the Office of the President and the Office of the Ombudsman.

In simple ceremonies held at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang, Executive Secretary Ochoa expressed support to the launching of the two programs toward the faithful observance of the constitutional maxim that public office is a public trust.

In her message of commitment, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales stated that this historic partnership, “further exudes inspiring 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, a Joint Technical Working Group shall “coordinate and monitor the implementation of the UNCAC commitments of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Government; mobilize the support of the private sector, academe, media and civil society organizations in implementing the State’s obligations under the UNCAC; and initiate the organization of special working groups to undertake policy reviews, researches and other related activities to facilitate compliance with the UNCAC.”

Meanwhile, a separate Program Management Committee shall oversee the IMP’s implementation across the bureaucracy as the government’s flagship anti-corruption program, which is a compendium of diagnostic tools to systematically assess a government agency’s vulnerabilities and resistance mechanisms to corruption.

The World Bank has been supporting the project leading to the harmonized IMP, while the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been assisting in the self-assessment and the preparation of the country review report on the Philippine compliance with the UNCAC.