Three-pronged War Vs Corruption

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, Pelagio Apostol revealed the various policy thrust of the Ombudsman’s office for the improvement of corruption prevention and control.

The deputy said they are given a timeline to comply this thrust from 2011 to 2018 to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, credibility and responsiveness in the performance of their mandate.

He said that along this thrust, they shall vigorously pursue the 8 point priorities to achieve their goal. The thrust, he said, includes the disposition of high profile cases, zero backlog, improved survival rate of fact-finding, enforced monitoring of referred cases, improved responsiveness of public assistance.

He added that it also includes improved anti-corruption policy and program coordination among sectors, rationalization of the functional structure of the office, and enhanced transparency and credibility.

Apostol said along these are the responsibilities entrusted to them by the government which they ought to fulfill with the cooperation of the people in the community.

He said that one of their functions is to giver priority to complaints filed against high ranking government officials or those occupying supervisory positions. Along this line of responsibility, they have to deal also complaints involving grave offenses as well as complaints involving large sums of money or properties.

Apostol also added that they are also mandated to be efficient in investigating reports of official wrongdoing and to act on all request for assistance from the public.

Another function of the Ombudsman is to measure a quality of fact-finding investigation in terms of evidence gathering shall be improved following the standards of fair, impartial and expeditious investigation in the pursuit of justice.

Apostol also said that they are obliged to be prudent in the exercise of their authority to conduct investigations adding that they are also mandated to render meaningful, responsive and relevant public assistance.

They are also directed to continue adopting a three -pronged approach in the war against corruption.

Image Credit: theavscourier.journ.ph