The UP Law Center’s Institute for the Administration of Justice (IAJ) held its latest Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program titled, Like a Bridge Over Troubling Waters: Corruption and Access to Justice, from 26 to 30 January 2026, convening around 150 legal professionals nationwide. Done in a hybrid format, the theme came at a time when issues of corruption, accountability, and public trust continue to challenge Philippine legal institutions, ultimately undermining access to justice and the rule of law.

The MCLE featured 22 distinguished speakers from the three branches of government, academe, civil society, and with affiliations with international organizations. Associate Justices Maria Filomena D. Singh of the Supreme Court and Gener M. Gito of the Sandiganbayan examined the judiciary’s approach to corruption and recent jurisprudence, while retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Asst. Chief State Counsel Marlyn L. Angelesdiscussed Philippine anti-corruption laws and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, respectively.

On the prosecution of corruption, Deputy Special Prosecutor Omar L. Sagadal, Atty. Gerard Mosquera, General Counsel of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Asst. Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan, and Malolos Deputy City Prosecutor Rex R. Rojas discussed collectively  the offense and defense strategies and the issues in prosecuting corruption and plunder cases.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon presented the Witness Protection Program (Rep. Act No. 8961) in the context of aiding in prosecution, while Atty. Matthew M. David, Executive Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and Associate Justice Eduardo B. Peralta Jr. of the Court of Appeals, shared their perspectives on financial accountability and asset recovery.

In parallel, former Secretary of Justice Alberto Agra, Atty. Arthur Autea, and Atty. Christian Loren Delos Santos discussed arbitration, negotiating anti-corruption clauses, and spotting anti-competitive red flag provisions in contracts as modes of arresting corruption in government procurement and public-private partnership.

The program also had broader discussions on the importance of freedom of information, led by Atty. Dino De Leon, and on accountability, transparency, and ethics by former Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson, Atty. Maria Gracia M. Pulido-Tan and former COA Commissioner, Heidi L. Mendoza. Meanwhile, former Representative Neri J. Colmenares emphasized legislative responsibility in the fight against corruption.

Adding to these legal perspectives were interdisciplinary discussions led by Rowena C. Paraan of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Dr. Joel Mangahas of the Asian Development Bank on the relationship between corruption and economics, and Atty. Senando Angelo Santiago, MSc of the UP Law Center on a data science exploration of corruption in Supreme Court cases.

The IAJ, through the MCLE, reaffirms the UP Law Center’s strong commitment to providing relevant and interdisciplinary continuing legal education that is responsive to the needs of our people and helps improve access to justice. (By Atty. Senando Angelo Santiago)

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