Ombudsman says fighting corruption is patriotism

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales believes a true patriot must help fight graft and corruption in government.

Speaking at the 2nd State Conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation and Review, Morales said: “The added value of adopting the UNCAC as an anticorruption framework is the realization that all sectors of society must work together to combat corruption under the overarching maxim that fighting corruption is one of the finest expressions of patriotism.”

She described the event as “an annual mechanism to draw consensus and effect validation of the country’s compliance with its obligations under the UNCAC.” 

President Aquino gave the keynote address at the convention.

Also in attendance were Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Commission on Audit Chairman Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan, Civil Service Commission Chairman Francisco Duque III, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, other senior officials in government, and representatives from development partners, private sector, academe, media and civil society organizations.

For the past three years, the Office of the Ombudsman has managed to forge memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with national government agencies such as the Department of Justice in March 2012, the Commission on Audit in April 2012, the Philippine National Police and National Police Commission in September 2012, the Office of the President in June 2013, and the Governance Commission for GOCCs in June 2013.

Just last month, the anti-graft agency and the Armed Forces signed an agreement to fight graft and corruption in the military side by side.