Senate President Pimentel Delivers PHL Statement at 7th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (COSP-UNCAC)
20 November 2017 VIENNA – Senate President Aquilino Martin “Koko” D. Pimentel III delivered the Philippine statement at the opening of the 7th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (COSP-UNCAC) last November 06.
In his statement, Senate President Pimentel cited the accomplishments of the Philippines in complying with its obligations under the United Conventions against Corruption, including the creation of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, the issuance of an Executive Order on the freedom of information and the enactment of various legislative measures on areas such as money-laundering and the strengthening of the Sandiganbayan.
He also cited the notable case decongestion reforms and programs of the Philippine Judiciary such as Justice on Wheels, a mobile court which goes to areas in need of adequate and inexpensive access to justice and the eCourts Project and the development of a web-based system which allows the online filing of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (eSALN), a project of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission.
The statement, reflecting President Duterte’s zero tolerance policy to corruption, was greatly appreciated by the participants of the Conference.
The UNCAC, which the Philippines ratified in 2006, contains chapters on Preventive measures, Criminalization and law enforcement, International cooperation, and Asset recovery. The Review Mechanism, a peer review process, is a salient feature of the Convention which determines and discusses the needs and challenges faced by States Parties. The Philippines is set to undergo a review on the chapters on Prevention and Asset Recovery in 2018.
Apart from Senate President Pimentel, comprising the Philippine Delegation are Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo I. Gueverra, Ambassador and Permanent Representative Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary Ryan Alvin Acosta, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Civil Service Commission Chairperson Alicia Dela Rosa Bala, Commission on Audit Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo, Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat OIC Mel George B. Racela, Chief State Counsel Ricardo V. Paras III as well as other government representatives.
The Conference, held every two years, runs from November 06 to 10 and brings together almost 2,000 government representatives, experts and civil society participants. END
For more information, visit www.viennape.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippine-embassy.at.