Undersecretary Domingo Reaffirms PH Commitment to Democracy and the Rule of Law in Fight Against Corruption
Top: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol opens the Indo-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Meeting in Seoul, South Korea on 30 March 2023; Undersecretary Jesus S. Domingo and Amb. Theresa D. De Vega, PH Ambassador to South Korea, meet with Foreign Minister Park Jin; Bottom: Undersecretary Domingo delivers the national statement.
SEOUL 31 March 2023 – Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Civilian Security and Consular Affairs Jesus S. Domingo reaffirmed the commitment of the Philippines to promoting democracy and the rule of law in the fight against corruption, in a statement delivered before world leaders at the Indo-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Meeting of the Second Summit for Democracy held in Seoul on 30 March 2023.
“Just as democracy requires constant work, so do our efforts in addressing corruption… Over the years, the Philippines has put forward initiatives to ensure fair, efficient and accountable delivery of services whereby all peoples shall have access to basic needs, without discrimination,” said Undersecretary Domingo.
He highlighted the country’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda, which includes bureaucratic efficiency, and identified several key laws, such as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Red Tape Act, that provide the backbone for the country’s fight against corruption.
He also enumerated measures to enhance transparency and accountability through the Freedom of Information (FOl) Acceleration Program and showcased the Citizen Participatory Audit of the Commission on Audit, an innovative program to promote inclusive governance and which has become a model for audit institutions around the world.
“The Philippines recognizes the importance of an approach that integrates sound legislation, greater transparency and accountability aided by technology and the institutionalized participation of an active and engaged citizenry and civil society,” stressed Undersecretary Domingo.
On the international front, the Philippines is State Party to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the second country in Southeast Asia and the fifth in Asia to ratify the Convention. The Philippines also co-founded the Open Government Partnership in 2011 to promote transparency and accountability, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies for better governance.
“The fight against corruption will provide impetus to a fair, effective, accountable and transparent government institution which will deliver sustainable development for our peoples,” he concluded.
The Second Summit for Democracy, co-hosted by the US, Republic of Korea, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, and Zambia, served as a follow up to the December 2021 Summit and renewed the commitment of participating countries to pursue and implement a global agenda that includes the protection of democratic institutions, promotion of human rights, and enhanced public access to the Internet, among others.
The related Indo-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Meeting adopted the Seoul Declaration on Challenges and Progress in Addressing Corruption, which drew attention to the role of international cooperation, non-governmental stakeholders, financial transparency and integrity, and technology in strengthening global and national anti-corruption initiatives. END