Press Release
January 28, 2013

Global gathering of parliamentarians in Manila
to discuss anti-corruption measures

Manila will be host to some 429 foreign parliamentarians from 78 countries all over the world as they attend the 5th Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), a four day anti-corruption conference that will be held at the Philippine Convention Center. Six hundred delegates, including 165 Philippine lawmakers are expected to attend the event, which will run from January 30 to February 2.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Vice Chairman of the GOPAC Executive Committee and the Charter President of the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC), looks forward to the event, which he says is the first of its kind to be held in the country.

"The confirmed attendance of over 500 anti-corruption delegates is a confirmation that our government's anti-corruption efforts are gaining ground in the in the international community," Angara said.

"This is our chance to show the world that we are seriously doing our part in cleaning up our government, in keeping with President Benigno Aquino III's thrust of "daang matuwid," he added.

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to give the keynote speech of the conference.

According to Angara, the conference will highlight an array of anti-corruption themes. These include discussions on how effectively each GOPAC member country has implemented the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which requires members to implement several anti-corruption measures which may affect their laws, institutions and practices.

"Corruption has the capacity to disrupt political stability, undermine the rule of law, and hinder a nation's growth and development. This conference will allow us to update each other on the initiatives we have taken to curb corruption all over the world," Angara said.

"Achieving good governance and fighting corruption can be strengthened by building networks among institutions. International cooperation is a key ingredient. Just as corruption transcends borders, so too must we fight it on a transnational level," Angara added.

Local speakers include Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales who will be discussing the use of evidence to enforce anti-corruption laws and Teresita Herbosa of the Anti-Money Laundering Council of the Philippines who will discuss anti-money laundering and bank secrecy laws.

For his part, Senator Franklin M. Drilon will moderate a discussion on the right to information and how civil society can help in the fight against corruption. He will be joined in the discussion by Justice Secretary Leila De Lima and Maria Ressa, Chief Executive of Rappler.com.

Foreign speakers are also expected to attend, including, among others, Dmitri Vlassis, Chief of the Anti Corruption and Crime Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Huguette Labelle, President of Transparency International, and Roy Cullen, former Deputy Minister of Canada and member of the GOPAC management committee.

GOPAC is an international network dedicated to good governance and combating corruption throughout the world. The only parliamentary network with the singular focus of combating corruption, GOPAC continues to provide its members with information and analysis, established international benchmarks, and improved public awareness through a combination of global pressure and national action.

The 2013 GOPAC Conference will have the theme, "Good Laws. Good Leaders. Good Citizens."

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