The ESSU Legal Office, headed by Atty. Dulce Amor A. Beato, Attorney IV, partnered with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB)—Field Office VIII, duly represented by its Acting Director, Atty. Janice G. Gabino, and conducted a Campus Integrity Crusaders Orientation Program at the President's Conference Room in the Main Campus today, February 14, 2025.
The audience for the said orientation is the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science students. This exercise is in compliance with CHED Regional Office Memorandum No. 209, Series of 2024, which encourages all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the region to support the OMB by organizing Campus Integrity Crusaders (CIC), a group of students involved in corruption prevention initiatives by developing their leadership skills and instilling the values of integrity and social responsibility in the school and community.
Atty. Gabino provided a concise overview of the OMB's mandate and gave a comprehensive discussion of what the CIC Program is all about. The Campus Integrity Crusaders Program aims to help young people develop their leadership skills and values of integrity & social responsibility and transform public accountability into the norm, ultimately aligning with the primary function of the OMB, which is to help prevent all forms of corruption in government.
The discussion collected diverse questions and participation from the interested audience. In effect, the participants came out of the venue sufficiently informed of the purpose, duties, and responsibilities of the CIC Program. Additionally, Atty. Gabino also gave a briefing on R.A. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as well as the duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of every citizen under the said law.
In closing, Atty. Beato expressed her gratitude towards the OMB for this partnership and anticipates that this exercise will serve as the springboard that will launch many other meaningful collaborative exploits between the two offices.
