By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — A top anti-corruption official from the United Nations met with Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to further strengthen cooperation against corruption and financial crimes in the Philippines.
Annika Wythes, anti-corruption team lead of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday together with UNODC Philippines National Programme Officer Atty. Kirbee Tibayan.
Remulla described the partnership between the Ombudsman and the UNODC as “strong” and continuously growing, emphasizing its importance in boosting anti-corruption campaigns, institutional development, and international cooperation.
During the meeting, both sides discussed possible future collaborations, including advanced digital forensics training, stronger international coordination, and the creation of a unified national anti-corruption framework.
The Ombudsman and the UNODC have already worked together on several technical trainings and workshops involving financial investigations, anti-money laundering efforts, corruption prosecution, digital evidence handling, asset recovery, and international legal cooperation.
Officials said the discussions also highlighted continuing efforts to implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the world’s only legally binding global anti-corruption agreement, which the Philippines ratified in 2006.
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