Thai anti-graft agency steps up cooperation with Philippine Ombudsman & ASEAN counterparts
[Facilitator's note: Thank you to Akharakit Keeratithanachaiyos, International Affairs Strategy Specialist, Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Thailand), for sharing this news release.]
Against the backdrop of proliferating economic integration initiatives and mechanisms in preparation for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, a pressing policy question has been posed for its 10 member countries: How ready are ASEAN’s anti-corruption bodies in working together to tackle cross-border corruption? Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission takes stock of its recent initiatives aimed at strengthening anti-corruption collaboration within ASEAN.
On 13 June 2014, Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines at the NACC’s main office in Nonthaburi, Thailand. NACC President Panthep Klanarongran and Ombudsman Conchita Morales of the Philippines presided over the signing ceremony of the landmark partnership agreement.
Also present at the ceremony were Philippine Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Mrs. Jocelyn S. Batoon-Garcia and executives of the Office of the NACC.
The Memorandum of Understanding affirms the agencies’ commitment to work together towards their common goal of eradicating corruption and provides a clear direction on ways to further strengthen their strategic partnership. Most saliently, the MoU establishes the mutual framework for direct and rapid cooperation on investigative matters as well as development of collaborative joint research and capacity building projects in areas of mutual interest.
The NACC and its Philippine counterpart began working on the agreement in December last year, shortly after the successful conclusion of a roundtable session for heads of ASEAN’s anti-corruption bodies held in Bangkok. At the meeting, participants pledged to step up regional cooperation and coordination in the area of anti-corruption and emphasized the urgent need to establish effective regional and bilateral mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of investigative intelligence among each other. The heads of the anti-corruption agencies welcomed the launch of UNODC’s Regional Programme for South-East Asia and raised the issue of support for developing a training manual on financial investigation for anti-corruption practitioners in the ASEAN region.
All ten ASEAN countries have ratified or acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). At the regional level, the ten anti-corruption agencies in the ASEAN region are members of the Memorandum of Understanding on Preventing and Combating Corruption (SEAPAC).
The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) strongly encourages law enforcement agencies to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on direct cooperation. At present, Thailand has signed bilateral MoUs with six of its ASEAN counterparts including the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Corruption Eradication Commission of Indonesia, Anti-Corruption Bureau of Brunei Darussalam, State Inspection and Anti-Corruption Authority of Lao PDR and Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines. It expects to sign an MoU with the Cambodian Anti-Corruption Unit by September this year.
Against the backdrop of proliferating economic integration initiatives and mechanisms in preparation for the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community, a pressing policy question has been posed for its 10 member countries: How ready are ASEAN’s anti-corruption bodies in working together to tackle cross-border corruption? Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission takes stock of its recent initiatives aimed at strengthening anti-corruption collaboration within ASEAN.
On 13 June 2014, Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines at the NACC’s main office in Nonthaburi, Thailand. NACC President Panthep Klanarongran and Ombudsman Conchita Morales of the Philippines presided over the signing ceremony of the landmark partnership agreement.
Also present at the ceremony were Philippine Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Mrs. Jocelyn S. Batoon-Garcia and executives of the Office of the NACC.
The Memorandum of Understanding affirms the agencies’ commitment to work together towards their common goal of eradicating corruption and provides a clear direction on ways to further strengthen their strategic partnership. Most saliently, the MoU establishes the mutual framework for direct and rapid cooperation on investigative matters as well as development of collaborative joint research and capacity building projects in areas of mutual interest.
The NACC and its Philippine counterpart began working on the agreement in December last year, shortly after the successful conclusion of a roundtable session for heads of ASEAN’s anti-corruption bodies held in Bangkok. At the meeting, participants pledged to step up regional cooperation and coordination in the area of anti-corruption and emphasized the urgent need to establish effective regional and bilateral mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of investigative intelligence among each other. The heads of the anti-corruption agencies welcomed the launch of UNODC’s Regional Programme for South-East Asia and raised the issue of support for developing a training manual on financial investigation for anti-corruption practitioners in the ASEAN region.
All ten ASEAN countries have ratified or acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). At the regional level, the ten anti-corruption agencies in the ASEAN region are members of the Memorandum of Understanding on Preventing and Combating Corruption (SEAPAC).
The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) strongly encourages law enforcement agencies to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on direct cooperation. At present, Thailand has signed bilateral MoUs with six of its ASEAN counterparts including the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Corruption Eradication Commission of Indonesia, Anti-Corruption Bureau of Brunei Darussalam, State Inspection and Anti-Corruption Authority of Lao PDR and Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines. It expects to sign an MoU with the Cambodian Anti-Corruption Unit by September this year.