QUEBEC, Canada, October 23, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara today personally extended an invitation to leaders from all over the world during the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly for them to come to Manila this January 2013 for the 5th Global Conference on Anti-Corruption.
With the theme "Good laws. Good leaders. Good Citizens," the Conference, hosted by the Senate of the Philippines, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), and the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC), is expected to draw 500 leaders from all over the world to Manila.
"The Conference is considered as one of the largest anti-corruption events in the world," said Angara. "It is important because it will equip parliamentarians all over the world with the knowledge and tools they need to enact responsive and effective legislation that will fight and prevent corruption."
Highlighting corruption as a shared challenge to all governments worldwide, developing and developed nations alike, Angara underlined the need for government reform towards eradicating corruption to achieve long-term economic growth and regain people's trust in government.
During the Pre-Conference Meetings, the invitation to come to Manila was reiterated to the regional groups of Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean by the Philippine Delegation. Global leaders responded positively to the invitation describing said Conference as "timely" and "very meaningful." They likewise congratulated the Philippines for the initiative.
Angara was joined by Senator Franklin Drilon, Head of the Philippine Delegation, and Senators Teofisto Guingona III, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in promoting the 5th Global Manila Conference in Manila here at the IPU. The meeting here in Quebec runs from October 22 to 27, 2012.
Angara is the driving force behind 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 also currently serves as Vice President of GOPAC, and Head of the Manila 2013 Steering Committee.
