THERE is no government in the world that is more bullish on the graft and corruption front than the British government. Good governance by the British definition means a public and privates sector

bereft of all forms of corruption – and there are numerous and stringent legal instruments in place, and enforced with vigor, to ensure this is so.

The good thing is that the Brits are more than happy to share this experience with other countries.

The latest beneficiary of this assistance is the Philippines which can do with all the help it can get in confronting the scourge of corruption that seems to seep to every level of the public sector.

In this respect the British Embassy in Manila and the Office of the Ombudsman in the Philippines are partnering to help boost the agency’s anti-corruption efforts.

As a first step, the Office of the Ombudsman and the British Embassy have penned a Memorandum of Agreement. And despite the MOA carrying the wordy and somewhat cumbersome title of “Accountable Grant for the Conduct of Specialized Training Enhancement”, SPECTRE – as in the catchy acronym it bears – is expected to be an effective and positive factor in ensuring that Filipinos are served honestly and diligently by its public servants.

The landmark agreement for cooperation in fighting corruption was signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and British Ambassador Stephen Lillie at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City.

The main aim of the MOA is to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ombudsman’s office in its capacity to fight corruption by enhancing the investigative and intelligence capability of field investigators through a sustainable training program that it is hoped would initially lead to at least a 10% increase in the disposition rate for corruption cases.

Furthermore, SPECTRE is designed to continually reinforce, update and intensify the knowledge and capabilities of field investigators. The training is scheduled to begin later this month for the first batch.

Ombudsman Morales stressed that it is imperative to strengthen the investigative capability of OMB investigators who must always be one step ahead in the techniques, strategies, skills and technology they employ in their work. She also pointed out that there is an urgent need to forge alliances with development partners, such as the British Embassy, to combat the culture of corruption that is sadly instilled in many Asian countries.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie acknowledged the Philippine Government’s anti-corruption efforts as one of the key factors that can boost the country’s economic growth. “President Aquino’s anti-corruption slogan ‘kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap’ has clearly resonated with the public and is widely supported by businesses. The Aquino government’s anti-corruption agenda is at the heart of efforts to bring greater prosperity and development to the Philippines”.

The Ambassador stressed that confidence in government and a level playing field free from corruption can boost trade and investment and can help the Philippines reach its potential to be perhaps the 16th largest economy in the world by mid century.

Since 2012, the British Embassy has supported the government’s anti-corruption drive by promoting what the UK’s Bribery Act requires of companies. The British Embassy has also worked with the Bangko Sentral in bringing in United Kingdom experts to help train government agencies and key stakeholders on the advancements in anti-money laundering laws and enforcement.

“We hope to continue supporting the Office of the Ombudsman, particularly in skills development. We believe that strengthening the capacity of investigators and prosecutors will help result in a stronger enforcement of the law and produce successful prosecutions of more cases of corruption, ultimately improving the international reputation of the Philippines as an excellent place in which to do business,” Ambassador Lillie added.

A sentiment that Malacañang Palace will go along with heartily!

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