Business, law groups, judiciary ink pact vs corruption

Representatives of the business community, law associations and the judiciary on Thursday signed a covenant to help curb corruption in the country’s justice system.

Participants, led by the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) that organized the event, said reforming the justice system was one of the key requirements to improve the investment climate.

Signatories to the Citizens Groups’ Covenant for Judicial Reforms vowed to help improve the integrity of the judicial system, by avoiding giving and accepting bribes.

Among those who signed the document were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez and representatives of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, Makati Business Club, European Chamber of Commerce, Institute of Corporate Directors, Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association, Philippine Bar Association, Philippine Association of Law Schools and Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

“While the current political administration has made significant strides in curbing corruption in some government agencies, major challenges remain and need to be addressed immediately,” Finex said in a statement.