Hanoi, Vietnam, September 1, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara underscored that the 5th Global Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) will showcase the gains being made against corruption throughout the ASEAN region, including the Philippines.
Angara made the remarks during a meeting with Hon. Ngyuen Manh Tien, Vice Chairman of Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of Vietnam and Head of the Philippine-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship League.
"I congratulate Vietnam for being one of the first countries in Asia to have a legal framework against corruption as early as 2005, and now having a long-term plan against corruption until 2020. This is a remarkable feat within our neighborhood," said Angara, who heads the 5th Global Conference Conference Steering Committee.
"This is the reason SEAPAC [Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption] is hosting the Global Conference in January this 2013. Because we want to show the whole world, especially the developed world, how we, the Philippines, Vietnam and the rest of Asia, are making strides in fighting corruption in our backyard. We hope you could join us actively through your support and participation," he continued.
The upcoming GOPAC Conference will be held in Manila from January 30 to February 2, 2013. With the theme, "Good laws. Good leaders. Good Citizens," the Conference is expected to draw about 350 to 400 parliamentarians from 90 member countries as well as world-renowned leaders, heads of states, members of the civil society, cabinet members, members of the judiciary and the academe.
The event, considered as one of the largest and most important anti-corruption events in the world, will be held in Manila in recognition and support of the recent efforts of the Philippines and neighboring ASEAN countries against corruption.
"We support efforts in transparency and anti-corruption, and thus fully support the Conference in Manila hosted by the Philippines," responded Assemblyman Tien. "We will bring this up to the National Assembly, and I am confident that it will go through smoothly so we can bring many members of the assembly to the Conference."
The 13th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the highest governing body of Vietnam, a unicameral body composed of 498 elected officials serving until 2016.
Angara is the driving force behind the establishment of SEAPAC, which leads regional anti-corruption efforts on a coordinated and institutional basis through parliamentarian-members in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
He is currently touring the region to drum up support for the upcoming Manila Conference in 2013.
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