The
Transparency and Accountability Network received a special
recognition and citation from the Department of Public Works and
Highways for its various efforts and involvements geared towards
good governance such as Bantay Lansangan, Access to Information
advocacy, development of lifestyle check manual for civil society
organizations, among other initiatives. The award was presented on
June 23, 2008, during the celebration of DPWH's 110th Anniversary.
Fellow awardees were TAN's very own Concerned Citizens of Abra for
Good Government and Procurement Watch, Inc.
We are very happy to inform
everyone of the newest members of the Transparency and
Accountability Network. In an Executive Council (EC) meeting held
in April 2008, the TAN EC approved the membership of the
following organizations:
1. Ateneo
de Naga University Knowledge for Development Center (KDC)
2. Notre Dame University KDC
3. Palawan State University KDC
4. Saint Paul University Philippines KDC
5. Silliman University KDC
6. University of San Carlos KDC
7. University of Southeastern Philippines KDC
8. Western Mindanao State University KDC
9. Citizens' Network for Good Governance
From a network of 25
member organizations, TAN now has 34 member organizations nationwide! To our newest members,
welcome to the TAN family and we look forward to a fruitful
sharing of information and experiences with you in our fight for
anti-corruption and our pursuit of good governance!
__________________________________________________
May 15,
2008
TAN
commends the Department of Health for its commitment to
transparency through its release of a public disclosure policy.
For more information on the DOH disclosure policy,
click here.
The Lawyers'
League for Liberty (Libertas), in partnership with Transparency
and Accountability Network, Alternative Law Groups (ALG), Action
for Economic Reform (AER), and Access to Information Network (ATIN)
will be holding a public forum on EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW
on 14 April 2008, 8am to 1:30pm, Richmonde Hotel, Ortigas Center.
For the
Primer on the Executive Privilege by Atty. Carlos P. Medina,
Jr.
click
here.
CIVIL SOCIETY SEARCH
COMMITTEE STILL OPEN TO RECEIVING NOMINATIONS TO COMELEC
The Civil
Society Search Committee (CSSC) is still open to receiving
nominations from civil society, business, professional
or non-governmental organizations for the existing vacancy for
Commissioner of the Commission on Elections. Candidate with
IT and strong management background is preferred.
Civil Society Search
Committee Solicits Nominations for Comelec
In view of the
existing vacancies for Commissioner and Chairman of the Commission
on Elections, and the upcoming two vacancies for Commissioners
following the February 2, 2008 retirements of Commissioners
Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason, the Civil Society
Search Committee (CSSC) is open to receiving nominations from
civil society, business, professional or non-governmental
organizations for the following positions to the Commission on
Elections:
One (1) Chairman (for appointment
after February 2, 2008)
Three (3) Commissioners (one
immediately, two after February 2, 2008)
Deadline for submission of
nominations is October 15, 2007
Sr. Sonia Aldeguer (Cebu Citizen’s
Involvement and Maturation for People Empowerment and Liberation)
Feliciano M. Bautista (Integrated
Bar of the Philippines)
Ramon C. Casiple (Institute for
Political and Electoral Reforms)
Edgar O. Chua (management
Association of the Philippines)
Amb. Henrietta T. de Villa (Parish
Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting)
Edward S. Go (Namfrel)
Christian S. Monsod (One Voice)
Tony G.M. La Viña (Transparency and
Accountability Network)
Bertie A. Lim (Makati Business
Club)
Sr. Rosanne Mallillin (Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines-NASSA)
Mahar Mangahas (Social Weather
Stations)
Benjamin T. Tolosa (Volunteers for
Clean Elections)
The Civil Society Search Committee
Secretariat
c/o Transparency and
Accountability Network
Center for Social Policy Building, Room 209
Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan
Avenue, Quezon City
Telefax:
(02) 426 5927
Email:
tan_secretariat@hotmail.com
PRESS STATEMENT
13 October 2006
Saddened and dismayed by
the recent resolution of the Ombudsman clearing all COMELEC
officials of criminal liability in the MegaPacific case, the
Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN), the largest
anti-corruption network of NGOs, academic and research
institutions, is reconsidering its relationship with the
Office of the Ombudsman.
TAN sits on the
Ombudsman's Steering Committee for the
€2.9
million European Commission project to strengthen its
prosecutorial and investigative capacities. It is the civil
society representative in the Ombudsman-led National
Anti-Corruption Program of Action and is working on a
Lifestyle Check Tool with the cooperation of the Ombudsman.
TAN
invited the Tanodbayan to a dialog with civil society to
better explain their resolution. After agreeing to
participate to talk to members of civil society, Tanodbayan
reversed herself and backed out of the dialog, saying she
had nothing further to say outside of the contents of the
resolution and her statements to the press last October 10.
Without the Ombudsman, TAN will be holding a forum on the
Ombudsman's decision on October 16, 2006, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
at the Sapphire Room of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Ortigas
Center. The forum is entitled, "A Merciless Analysis of the
Ombudsman Resolution on the MegaPacific/COMELEC Case."
A Merciless Analysis of the
Ombudsman Resolution on
After
having committed to dialog with members of civil society to
explain their Supplemental Resolution on the Comelec/Mega
Pacific case, Tanodbayan Marceditas Gutierrez backed out
saying that they had no more to say on the case. The
Supplemental Resolution cleared all Comelec officials of
criminal liability in the failed bidding for automated
counting machines to be used for the May 2004 elections.
Vincent Lazatin, executive director of the Transparency and
Accountability Network (TAN) which requested for the dialog,
expressed his disappointment in a letter to Gutierrez. In
his letter, Lazatin said, “The dialog would have given (the
Ombudsman) the opportunity to respond to the many unanswered
questions of civil society.”
“We were
giving her an opportunity to convince us of their findings
and not be tried in media,” said Lazatin. The release of
the September 27, 2006 Supplemental Resolution stunned and
shocked civil society activists and Comelec observers. It
reversed a June 28, 2006 resolution which found that there
was probable cause to charge members of the Comelec Bids and
Awards Committee (BAC) for violation of the Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act, and found that there were grounds for
an impeachment case Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra.
The Supplemental Resolution went so far as to state there
was not an “iota of evidence” to either file charges against
the BAC or Borra.
“This
reversal and Gutierrez’s refusal to dialog with us seriously
shakes the foundation of confidence and respect that had
been built up since the time of Simeon Marcelo,” said
Lazatin. Simeon Marcelo was appointed Ombudsman in 2002
and was cited by TAN in 2004 for his tireless contributions
to the anti-corruption effort and work with civil society.
In 2005, less than 3 years into his 7 year term, Marcelo
abruptly announced his resignation, amidst speculation that
he was under pressure to dismiss high profile cases
including the Comelec/Mega Pacific case.
TAN
works with the Ombudsman on several fronts including sitting
on the Steering Committee of the €2.9 million European
Commission project, developing a lifestyle check tool, and
acting as the civil society representative in the
Ombudsman-led National Anti-Corruption Program of Action.
It has partnered with several government agencies to address
the problem of corruption, including the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, Department of Health, Department of Education, and
the Department of Public Works and Highways. It has also
monitored and called for more transparency in the
appointment process for independent commissions and bodies
like the Supreme Court, the Comelec and the Ombudsman.
February 14-16, 2006
- The Judicial and Bar Council conducted interviews of the
candidates for Supreme Court Associate Justice
March 27, 2006
- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Court Administrator
Presbitero Velasco 15th member of the Supreme Court (note: Arroyo's
deadline for appointing SC Associate Justice based on the
Constitution's prescriptive period is March 20, 2006)
October 4, 2006
- The Judicial and Bar Council holds consultation meeting with
various sectors in Region X regarding the search process for
vacancies in the judiciary. SCAW representatives (Toix Cerna and
Atty. Luie Guia) attended the activity.
>>
October 30, 2006
- Deadline for application/
recommendation to Supreme Court Chief Justice position
The Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) is a
coalition of multi-sectoral organizations, which seeks to
contribute significantly to the reduction of corruption in the
Philippines. It catalyzes and advances a comprehensive and
multi-sectoral transparency and accountability strategy
founded on the prevention and prosecution of corruption, and
the promotion of a corruption-intolerant society.
In the year 2000, TAN emerged within the context of heightened
concern over the lack of transparency and accountability in
governance, which ultimately led to People Power II. Various
groups frequently met in the course of organizing and
attending various conferences on anti-corruption. During these
meetings, the idea of forming a loose network to coordinate
anti-corruption initiatives gradually evolved. The Network was
finally formalized in November 2000 with 19 organizations as
founding members.
