The government looks forward to the coming consultations of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and other Philippine officials with the Millennium Challenge Corporation regarding its anti-corruption efforts. This information was requested by MCC chief executive officer John Danilovich in a letter to President Gloria Arroyo last month.

The MCC letter reads, in part: "As you are aware, under the ongoing MCC Threshold Program, the Philippines is making progress in combating corruption through programs strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman and the Bureaus of Customs and Internal Revenue. We look forward to continued commitment and progress by the Philippine government in the important fight against corruption."

The Philippines assures the MCC that its commitment in fighting corruption remains as strong as ever.

Among achievements to be highlighted in the Philippine government presentation are:

 • Doubling of Ombudsman budget since 2002 to P974 million last year, increasing prosecutors to 104 from 52, investigators to 96 from 37, and conviction rate to 35% of cases last year, from 6% in 2002, including Estrada plunder conviction.

 • More than 100 officials recommended for dismissal or other sanctions by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission in 2001-07, against 19 in 1994-2000

 • Ongoing lifestyle checks removing, suspending or charging dozens of officials every year, including former armed forces comptroller Carlos Garcia.

 • 60 anti-smuggling cases filed in 2005-07, with a total value of $1.05 billion.

 • Smuggled goods seized, with expected auction value of P6.8 billion

 • 17 money laundering cases filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council with the DOJ, the Ombudsman and the courts involving P530 million; 20 funds/assets frozen totaling P559 million; and 7 cases being probed covering P1.4 billion.

 • Creation of Pro-Performance System to monitor infrastructure projects and Procurement Transparency Group to watch contract bids and awards, with civil society and sectoral groups deployed as observers and monitors.

With these anti-corruption achievements, the Philippines shall assure MCC that its commitment and perseverance in fighting corruption remain as strong as ever. # # #