Government execs unite vs corruption

CEBU, Philippines - Government regional executives in the Visayas have launched a united front to battle graft and corruption.

The three associations of regional directors from all government agencies in Regions 6, 7 and 8 have agreed to bind themselves together under one umbrella organization called the Visayas Regional Executives Council.

The council was created upon the initiative of the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas which aimed to bring all the government agencies together in the war against corruption.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol yesterday said the war against corruption has gained grounds in the Visayas for it is now “One Visayas in the War Against Corruption.”

The members of the council are expected to sign a covenant on June 22 during the convention of resident ombudsmen in Ormoc City.

Apostol said the council was created to foster harmonious relationship among agency members in the promotion of good governance.

It likewise aims to achieve efficient and effective delivery of basic services to the people to counter the negative perception of the public towards the people in the government.

Apostol hosted a dialogue-conference with the regional executives in the Visayas last Tuesday in which they were given the chance to raise their own concerns to the Ombudsman.

Apostol said among the issues raised during the dialogue are the non-implementation of anti-graft office decisions and the effect of the Ombudsman’s immediate docketing of anonymous complaints against government officials and employees to their work efficiency and promotions.

He said these problems have been addressed during the dialogue, specially the concerns raised by the prosecutors that they assist the Ombudsman in prosecuting cases but will sometime end up being investigated if the complainant is not satisfied.

According to Apostol, they have acknowledged that the anti-graft office has no jurisdiction to review the prosecutor’s findings. — Fred P. Languido/LPM  (THE FREEMAN)