Asia 1st anti-graft institution to be set up in RP

MANILA, Philippines – Asia’s first anti-graft and corruption institution will be set up in the Philippines.

Speaking during the three-day Asian Ombudsman meeting in Manila that concludes today, Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said the Center for Asian Integrity (CAI) will be established under an agreement between the Philippines and other states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“There is a need to have collaborative efforts with other countries to enhance our own efforts to fight corruption. International groups headed by the Office of the Ombudsman held a joint meeting to develop programs and policies against graft and corruption,” she said.

Gutierrez said the CAI would be a big boost to the government’s campaign against graft and corruption as it will focus on the study and prevention of corruption in government.

“There is a need to improve the fight against corruption in the aspects of enforcement, prevention and promotion,” she said.

“And an enhanced mutual cooperation with our neighbors will surely help us.”

Gutierrez said the proposed center seeks to offer curriculum design and course development on “integrity courses” accredited by the University of the Philippines.

The Millennium Challenge Corp.-Philippine Threshold Program will fund the establishment of CAI through the Asia Foundation, she added.

Gutierrez said the CAI would serve as training center for trainers, investigators, and prosecutors of the Office of the Ombudsman.

It will also provide qualitative and quantitative research programs on corruption using international methodologies, she added.

Witnessing the signing of the agreement to set up the CAI were representatives of foreign anti-corruption groups, including those from Brunei, Cambodia and Thailand.   – Edu Punay