Europe-PH News

 Top officials from all branches of the government are expected to attend the Third Integrity Summit today at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

This year’s summit, dubbed “Building A Nation With Integrity,” will have Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Senate President Franklin Drilon and Budget Secretary Butch Abad discussing the government’s various campaigns to eradicate corruption.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Commission on Audit Chairman Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan will also headline a panel discussion on current government campaigns against corruption.

Indonesia’s Komisi Pemberantsan Korupsi (KPK) Research Development Director Roni Dwi Susanto will be taking part in the summit and talk about their 100-percent conviction rate of cases filed against high profile government officials while returning to the state treasury more than $80 million.

Created in 2003, KPK, which means Corruption Eradication Commission, was given extraordinary powers by the Indonesian government to combat corruption including the capacity to conduct searches and seizures, freezing of assets, imposing of travel bans, compelling cooperation from government agencies, and even intercepting messages without prior judicial approval.

The KPK was one of the recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay award this year. The Integrity Initiative project was started in 2010 by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Makati Business Club with the aim of assisting the government in combating corruption, provide a level playing field for investors, and minimize unemployment in the country.

Currently more than 1,000 companies nationwide and 39 key government agencies have signed with the project.

Aside from government officials, expected to attend the summit are top executives and decision-makers from across all industries.

Source: Business Mirror (www.businessmirror.com.ph); News; 19 September 2013