Press Briefing Room, New Executive Bldg., Malacanang, | Opening Statement (below) | News Releases | http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/secretarycoloma/news.htm | Audio | http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/pnoy/Press%20Briefing%20Sec.%20Coloma,%2026%20Dec%202013.mp3 | SEC. COLOMA: Magandang tanghali sa inyong lahat. During the entire year, our people spoke the loudest against corruption in the misuse of public funds. Last week, the leaders of the three branches of government, Executive, Legislative and Judiciary stood on the same platform with the Ombudsman to declare a unified stand in support of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption or UNCAC. A resolution containing the government's commitment on the UNCAC was presented and submitted by Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa to President Benigno S. Aquino III. Among the significant actions they agreed to implement are the following: creation by Congress of more divisions in the Sandiganbayan to unclog its dockets and hasten the disposition of pending anti-graft cases; strengthening of the witness protection law; enactment of the Whistleblower's Act; strengthening of the anti-money laundering law; codification of anti-corruption laws; criminalizing bribery in the private sector: active and passive trading of influence; amendments to the forfeiture law, the extradition law and the mutual legal assistance treaty; and passage of a freedom of information law. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales reported 85% compliance by the country on International cooperation agreements, and 65% compliance on criminalization and law enforcement. The United Nations Convention Against Corruption or UNCAC was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2003. It is the first legally binding international anti-corruption instrument that requires states and parties to implement through laws, institutions, programs and practices, a wide range of measures to prevent, detect, prosecute and sanction corruption and recover its proceeds. The UNCAC was signed on December 9, 2003 by 140 states, including the Philippines, and was ratified by the Philippine Senate on November 8, 2006. At that time, the Philippines was only the second country in Southeast Asia and the fifth country in Asia who have done so. After the so-called "lost decade", the President said; President Aquino said last week that our first actions were not to build on what has been achieved, but to fill the fissures in our public institutions with the following important elements in the fight against corruption: first, vigorous implementation of the concept that no one can be above the law, as exemplified by the filing of cases against a former president and the impeachment of a chief justice, and the relentless prosecution of smugglers and tax evaders, through the filing of 423 cases to date; number two, removing inefficiencies in government systems, as exemplified by the top level revamp in the Bureau of Customs, accompanied by systems and policy reforms; and three, empowering the bureaucracy to serve the public better through the adoption of zero-based budgeting system and enhanced transparency and accountability measures. On the fourth quarter survey of the Social Weather Station, the President and the members of his Cabinet are determined to pursue and complete the priority programs of the Philippine Development Plan regardless of survey results. As the President emphasizes, we will do right by our people and endeavor to fulfill their aspirations for a better future. I'm prepared to answer your questions. ***

• published: 26 Dec 2013
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