Friday, September 12, 2008 Oro graft-busting group born By Cong B. Corrales
THE Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao found another ally in its drive against graft and corrupt practices in government when it inked on Thursday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with CDO Good Governance Inc. (CGGI) at the Archbishop's Palace, Fernandez Street in Cagayan de Oro City.
In a signing ceremony hosted by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, lawyer Rodolfo Elman who is assistant ombudsman for Mindanao, and Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Lerio, chair of CGGI and executive director of Archdiocesan Good Governance Apostolate (AGGAp), signed a MOA making CGGI an official graft busting unit of the office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao.
The MOA officially authorizes CGGI to assist the office of the Ombudsman in "lifestyle checks" on public officials, gather evidence, and aid in the filing of graft and corruption cases against erring public figures and government offices.
CGGI will assist the Ombudsman in assuring the transparency of government procurements. It is lawful under the Procurement Act, Republic Act (RA) 9184.
Under the MOA, CGGI must follow the Ombudsman's anti-graft code and can recommend improvements in the issuance of permits.
While the office of the Ombudsman, under the MOA, will provide capacity building through seminars and workshops. Members of CGGI who have undergone said seminars and workshops could officially sit in as observers in public biddings to insure transparency in all local government procurements.
Lerio was optimistic over the signing of the MOA, saying this will give the church the legal personality to advance the people's advocacy for a transparent and accountable government.
"We are not here to create enemies; we are here for the people's right to good governance," Lerio told reporters in a press conference prior to the signing of the MOA.
CGGI is the civil society arm of AGGAp, a Church-based group composed of volunteers whose goal is to promote good governance and responsible citizenship. It organizes and mobilizes programs, activities, and involvements for formation and constituency network-building in fighting political ills like corruption, poor electoral exercises, poor governance, and people disempowerment.
"Magsugod ta from barangay level pata-as, sa grassroots (Let's start from the barangay level up)," Guilly Parrel, vice chair of CGGI, said. He added that everyone should continue the fight against corruption.
Elman, for his part, was thankful that another non-government organization (NGO) has taken the fight to wage the war on graft and corruption.
The fight for transparency and good governance is everybody's concern, especially the tri-media who can expose graft practices in public offices, he said, adding that "the right to information is inherent."
On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) president Jerry Orcullo expressed solidarity with the goals of the CGGI, saying "the fight against any form of corruption is a matter of fire that should be kept burning in everyone's heart and that it should be fought all throughout."
Orcullo, who recently went through the knife to remove cancerous cells in his vocal chord, added: "I may be voiceless, but my presence here represent the club's anti-corruption drive and my personal struggle against one of the basic ills of our society that has driven this country to the brink of social unrest. I am here to express solidarity with all of you. Remember, the heart does not talk, it just commands."
