Stamping out corruption

MANILA, Philippines - Corruption is a social malady whose ramifications radiate from the highest echelons of power down to the smallest household. Its pervasiveness is, perhaps, its most lethal quality.

Hence, any effort to contain corruption requires broad and constant engagement from all sectors of society.

This is one of the key points taken up during the 4th Global Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) which I attended here in Mexico City this weekend.

GOPAC's first monitoring report emphasizes that having engaged members is primordial in achieving a global plan to combat corruption. This will begin with informed parliamentarians who have the political will to become genuine advocates of both global and national anti-corruption efforts.

The underlying basis for the global fight against corruption is no less than the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the first legally binding instrument of its kind.

The Philippine Senate ratified the UNCAC back in November, 2006, which made us the second Southeast Asian country to have done so. As member of the GOPAC's executive board, I was able to help craft some of the language of the UNCAC.

Moreover, we established the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians against Corruption (SEAPAC) in 2005. As a regional chapter, SEAPAC supports the GOPAC's goals of curbing corruption, promoting good governance, and fostering accountability.

However, GOPAC's evaluation shows that much remains to be done toward forming a global plan that would strengthen parliamentary performance in abating corruption and ensuring that the implementation of the UNCAC remains the priority of all countries that signed the convention.

While the foundations have been established, support for the implementation, oversight, and review of the UNCAC in the parliamentary level is still lacking in many countries.

GOPAC, therefore, proposes that strong country chapters should be created to stimulate political and civil cooperation. The coalition is committed to involving the widest group of stakeholders in planning, enforcing, and evaluating anti-corruption measures - government agencies, civil society groups, international agencies, donors, media practitioners, academics, students, and non-governmental organizations.

GOPAC stressed that citizens' participation is extremely important. Vigilance will not only deter corruption, but also reshape values that have been tainted by it.

At the same time, the credibility that the public vests in parliamentarians is crucial in lending credence to anti-corruption efforts. GOPAC's review indicates that based on the public's perspective, the integrity of legislators can weaken or strengthen the campaign itself.

Seven bills seeking to strengthen anti-plunder and anti-graft practices have been filed in our Congress so far. Additionally, we must strive to boost the oversight of anti-money laundering activities, which is critical in tracking, recovering and preventing the movement of illicit assets.

Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2010 shows that the Philippines is one of the most ill-perceived nations with regard to fraudulence. With a score of 2.4, we are among three-fourths of the 178 countries surveyed that gained a mark below five, on a scale of one (highly corrupt) to 10 (highly clean).

Perception is truly one of the biggest battles we face. But it is not only what foreign observers think of us. More importantly, it is how we, Filipinos, see ourselves and our country.

GOPAC and SEAPAC provide us with the tools and capacity to stamp out corruption. But they need continuous support from the highest echelons of power down to the smallest household to truly make a difference.

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