To commemorate its 25th anniversary in 2011, the Commission launched the Haydee Yorac Commemorative Lecture Series (HYCLS) – which seeks to generate a conversation among experts and stakeholders on the continued campaign on good government.
The first lecture was held in June 2011 with Mr. Tony Kwok, an internationally recognized anti-corruption expert from Hong Kong. The second forum tackled asset forfeiture and an assessment of the Commission. Held in September 2011, it also provided a platform for Sec. Butch Abad of the Department of Budget and Management to share the National Action Plan on Anti-Corruption and Good Governance.
1st Yorac Lecture by Mr. Tony Kwok
The Commission held the 1st Yorac lecture last 4 May 2011 at the 5th floor of the Far Eastern University in Makati City. The activity was attended by 169 guests including members of the diplomatic corps, officials from government agencies, fellow workers in public service, media people, and representatives from non-government organizations.
The lecture entitled “Fighting Corruption in the Philippines – What Went Wrong and What Can Be Done Now” delivered by Mr. Tony Kwok highlighted 3 key understandings: 1) There is no single solution in fighting corruption; 2) We can’t rely on a single agency to fight corruption; and 3) There ought to be zero tolerance.
2nd Yorac Lecture (PCGG Assessment Study)
This activity forms part of the Haydee Yorac Commemorative Series for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Commission. This served as a platform to discuss the national action plan on anti-corruption and good governance of the present Aquino administration. A study on the asset forfeiture regime in the Philippines was also presented by PCGG Commissioner Gerard Mosquera. Highlights of the comprehensive assessment undertaken by Atty. Racquel Dimalanta on the Commission were likewise presented during this event.
3rd Yorac Lecture by UK Judge Michael Hopmeier
Michael Hopmeier of the United Kingdom has had extensive experience in anti-corruption legislation, implementation and prosecution. In 2004, he was asked by the OSCE (i.e. , the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) to deliver seminars to Judges and Prosecutors of the Organised Crime Court in Serbia and Montenegro on human rights issues and on fighting fraud and corruption. In 2008, he was appointed by the EU to be part of a 3-person Justice Assistance Mission to the Philippines. In 2010, he returned to Manila as Judicial Expert to assist the EU Epjust mission to the Philippines.
Supported by the British Embassy in Manila, Judge Hopmeier spoke on asset recovery as a necessary tool of anti-corruption work which, more often than not, requires active cooperation among various nations and jurisdictions. His lecture dealt with practical procedures and the effects of asset recovery and anti-corruption work in the UK, as well as mutual cooperation under UN and EU Conventions.
Atty. Vicente S. Aquino, Executive Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), served as reactor to the three-hour lecture attended by 164 participants from various sectors.
4th Yorac Lecture by Professor Robert Klitgaard
Robert Klitgaard, a leading expert on anti-corruption and economic development, is also a University Professor at Claremont Graduate University, where he was President from 2005 to 2009. He has served on the faculty of the World Economic Forum and has advised many governments, including the Philippines, on economic strategy and institutional reform.
The forum, “Safeguarding Good Government for Economic Development”, considered the nexus between “transparent, accountable and participatory governance” and “rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth”. As these are identified key result areas of the Aquino Administration’s social contract with the people, the lecture was very useful in understanding the many ways by which the areas interface. 120 participants attended the lecture which also featured Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Deputy Commissioner Estela Sales as reactor.
This final forum of the HYCLS was organized with support from the US Agency for International Development, and in partnership with the Hills Program on Governance at the Asian Institute of Management and the Management Systems International (MSI) Integrity Project.