The Ombudsman in the Visayas is in the process of organizing the so-called foot soldiers in corruption-prevention otherwise known as the Campus Integrity Crusaders (CICs) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) through an orientation seminar conducted at the DepEd division of Negros Oriental.
CIC refers to any non-partisan school-based youth organization recognized by a secondary or tertiary educational institution and duly accredited by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Dr. Belle M. Quijano, chief, corruption prevention and education group, said late Tuesday the CIC is aimed at empowering the youth in their involvement in corruption prevention initiatives by developing their leaderships skills and instilling values of integrity and social responsibility.
According to Quijano, CICs have been organized in different provinces of the Central Visayas, to replace the Junior Graft Watch launched years back.
But with Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales at the helm, it was changed to the Campus Integrity Crusaders so the approach is more positive to the youth, in promoting values particularly public service values in their younger years, so that same values can be internalized as they grow older.
She said the CICs should not be misconstrued as being spys for the Ombudsman, even as it is also their main duty as citizens to be vigilant against all forms of corruption in their respective places.
Students come and go, thus the CIC organization is the one being accredited by the Ombudsman, Quijano pointed out.
The office of the Ombudsman and the CIC may jointly undertake activities that aim to cultivate the virtues of uprightness, responsibility, honesty, respect for authority, and love of country.
Instill a sense of good citizenship and responsible leadership, inculcate the basic principles of human rights and civic duties and promote the integration of corruption-prevention education teaching modules in the curricula.
Also present during the orientation program are Maritess T. Soon, and Lenny Manolong, associate graft investigation officers III.
Negros Island Regional (NIR) Assistant Regional Director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, concurrent schools division superintendent of the Negros Oriental Division, was also on hand to welcome them. (JFP/JG)
