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Building better public servants thru anti-Corruption training program for public prosecutors
Ombudsman Prosecutor Louella Pesquero had tears in her eyes when describing her reaction to the 5-day USAID-funded training
program for anti-Corruption prosecutors that was recently completed on January 30, 2004.
According to Pesquero, a prosecutor in the Office of the Ombudsman, the training program for anti-Corruption prosecutors implemented by the Economic Governance Technical Assistance (EGTA) Project, "not only had a constructive, but also a meaningful effect on all of us. One word is enough-TEAMWORK. We are all part of a whole, we therefore have a common objective"
The common objective is to identify and successfully prosecute those engaged in official Corruption in the Republic of the Philippines.
The training appears to be working. Prior to USAID-funded assistance, the conviction rates related to cases of official Corruption were poor, to say the least. Since the Office of the Ombudsman and the Special Prosecutors Office started working with the EGTA Project, conviction rates have dramatically improved.
When asked to make remarks at the end of the training sessions as a representative of her training class, she focused on the positive impact the training had on the morale and teamwork of the trainees, stating, "At the Office of the Special Prosecutor, we shouldn't work because we're graded, or observed, or rewarded later. IT SHOULD TRANSCEND THAT. We work because WE LOVE WHAT WE DO AND WE BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO. When we are able to internalize that, then, we can be GOVERNMENT PROSECUTORS. Then we can be truly, PUBLIC SERVANTS".