Ombudsman leads nat’l anti-corruption day celebration

MANILA, Philippines - Hoping to create more awareness and spark active participation among vigilant Filipinos, the Office of the Ombudsman will lead today’s celebration of National Anti-Corruption day at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

The anti-graft agency is scheduled to hold simultaneous activities with the launching of the University Integrity Tour at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) and the holding of the 1st Barangay Integrity Forum in Mangaldan, Pangasinan.

Both activities form part of the Integrity Caravan program launched by the Office of the Ombudsman during its 25th anniversary last May. The program aims to engage the public and private sector in various programs and projects geared toward fighting graft and corruption.

The University Integrity Tour, which is designed to build the foundations of good governance and anti-corruption in the country’s educational system, will be launched at 9:00 a.m. with representatives from the UP-NCPAG Student Council and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The series of barangay integrity fora, meanwhile, are aimed at educating barangay officials on ethical standards, good governance and public accountability.

The 1st Barangay Integrity Forum is expected to be attended by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and local officials. Similar activities are also being scheduled in Cebu and Davao.

Recognizing that corruption is a serious crime that slows down economic growth and development, “this year the UNODC (the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) and UNDP have developed a joint global campaign, focusing on how corruption hinders efforts to achieve the internationally agreed upon Millennium Development Goals and impacts education, health, justice, democracy, prosperity and development.”

On Oct. 31, 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted the United National Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), an international legal instrument against corruption, and designated Dec. 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day.

President Aquino, through Proclamation No. 506 dated Nov. 16, 2012, declared Dec. 9 as National Anti-Corruption Day.