5th Global Conference on Parliamentarians Against Corruption

Sen. Edgardo Angara with the Senate media

OVER 500 people of different races, colors, beliefs, and personalities gather together recently in Manila for one noble purpose: to fight corruption.

The GOPAC Global Conference of Parliamentarians Against Corruption is a biennial event that brings together GOPAC members, prospective members, stakeholders and funders dedicated to the fight against corruption. It is designed to inspire, educate and equip GOPAC Chapters and its individual members in the ongoing fight against corruption. It provides an opportunity for parliamentarians from around the world to discuss their shared experiences in the fight against corruption and establish strong networks for the road ahead. 

GOPAC is the only parliamentary network with the singular focus on combating corruption. There are currently over 900 members of GOPAC, representing over 90 countries in all the regions of the world.
Manila was chosen as a venue in line with the Aquino administration’s current flagship program of anti-corruption.

“In about four decades, 3 billion Asians will enjoy the living standards of Europe. Asia will be the center of global production by 2025, with a 30 percent share in global domestic product that exceeds Europe’s 20 percent share. And by 2050, we will come to account for 51 percent of the global economy.

“But wealth will come at the price of sharper social and economic inequities if prosperity does not trickle down to the entire population. We must not allow wealth and power to remain concentrated in the hands of the few,” stressed Sen. Edgardo J. Angara.

Sen. Edgardo Angara underscored the urgency of anti-corruption and good governance reforms in Asia’s—and the Philippines’—future during the Philippine Chapter Workshop of the GOPAC and South East Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC), of which he is the Vice Chair and Charter President, respectively.

“Good governance will be the foundation and bedrock of Asia’s century—our future. GOPAC and SEAPAC, which are celebrating its 10th and 5th founding anniversary respectively, will be indispensable in this regard.

A pre-event to the 2013 Global Conference GOPAC, the workshop highlighted Anti-Money Laundering and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), two of five of GOPAC’s focus areas. The other areas are Parliamentary Oversight, Parliamentary Ethics and Conduct, and Participation of Society. 

The Philippine Senate and theSEAPAC jointly hosted this biennial global gathering,  attended by over 500 members of parliament from 50 countries worldwide.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, the only Asian representative to GOPAC and founding president of SEAPAC, was elected vice president of GOPAC. Dr. Nasser Al Sane of Kuwait was re-elected president.
Angara was the driving force behind the establishment of SEAPAC in 2005 and is a member of the Executive Board of the Ottawa, Canada-based GOPAC.

Twelve heads of parliament  attended GOPAC conference  held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City from January 30 to February 2.

Heads of parliament represented by Sen. Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, Senate president of Malaysia; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Consultative Council of Saudi Arabia; Vicente da Silva Guterres, president of the National Parliament of Timor Leste; Ahmed Fahmi Nab, chairman of the Shura Assembly of Egypt; Haroun Kabadi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Chad; Rose Francine Rogombe, Senate president of Gabon; Kenneth Marende, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya; Abdulla Shahid, Speaker of the Parliament of Maldives; Karim Ghellab, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco; Asser Kuveri Kapere, chairman of the National Council of Namibia and Dr. Margaret Nasha, Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana  participate in a series of discussions that will tackle the role of good governance in the fight against corruption.

Supported by the GOPAC National Chapter in the Philippines, the conference, touted to be the first of its kind in South East Asia, aims to encourage parliaments all over the world to take a leadership role in promoting good governance by crafting tougher laws to combat graft and corruption.  

Topics discussed during the four day event include, among others, anti-money laundering and bank secrecy laws, the right to information and civil society participation, and the role of good audit in the fight against corruption.

Local and foreign delegates/media representatives, from left: Leony R. Garcia (Business Mirror), Chitra Nair (UN-India), Fiona Bowring-Geer (Australian Senate), and Virginia Santiago (STJ Publishing).

Chitra Nair gamely "posed" before the local media to test the right angle and lighting of their cameras. Nair's seat was meant for Sen. Angara whom the press people interviewed (see photo above) on the opening  day of GOPAC Manila Forum 2013.