CoA lost a ‘UN Auditor’ (2)

On 1 January 1999, with all the new year festivities in the resplendent New York City, the chairman of the Commission on Audit of the Republic of the Philippines, Celso Gangan, assumed his post as a member of the United Nations Board of Audit.

It was 10 November 1998, when the General Assembly of the UN elected the Commission on Audit of the Republic of the Philippines, led by Chairman Gangan to the UN Board of Auditors, the body in charge of the audit of UN accounts, the International Court of Justice and the UN’s specialized agencies throughout the world.

The Philippines won over Pakistan and incumbent

India in the voting that was held during the 53rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Winning the election on the first ballot, the Philippines garnered 117 votes out of the 178 voting members, or 66 percent of the total votes cast. Pakistan received 33 votes, while reelectionist India got 26.

The late Celso Gangan was in the penultimate year of his seven-year term as CoA chairman from 25 March 1994 to 2 February 2001, when he was elected member of the exclusive UN Board of Auditors.

Gangan was worthy of the UN’s exalted post and the Philippines was proud of his posting via landslide votes by no less than the world body. He was the delegate to the Constitutional Convention responsible for framing the 1987 Constitution, representing the lone district of Isabela.

He served as chair of the committee on government audit and voiced strongly for the creation of CoA as a collegial bag, instead of the one-man rule under the General Auditing Office. He was a fine young politician. Cory Aquino appointed him officer-in-charge vice-governor of Isabela in 1986.

He was once designated as resident Ombudsman of the CoA central office. Prior to his appointment as CoA chairman, he was assistant commissioner.

The following imprints of honor and dignity in government service were highly discernible in the acts and pronouncements of the Commission Proper under Gangan:

1. They uphold the public interest. They require that all government resources and powers must be used efficiently, effectively, honestly, and economically, to avoid the wastage of public funds;

2. They require that all public officials and employees shall perform their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence, and skill;

3. They require that all public officials and employees shall remain true to the people at all times. They must act with justness and sincerity and shall not discriminate against anyone, especially the poor and the underprivileged. They shall at all times respect the rights of others, and shall refrain from doing acts contrary to law, good morals, good customs, public policy, public order, public safety, and public interest. They shall not extend undue favors on account of their office to their relatives;

4. They require that public officials and employees shall provide service to everyone without discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preferences;

5. They require that public officials and employees shall extend prompt, courteous and adequate service to the public. They shall provide information on their policies and procedures, ensure openness of information, simplify rules and procedures, and avoid red tape; and

6. They require that public officials and employees shall commit themselves to the democratic way of life and values, and maintain the principle of public accountability. They shall at all times uphold the Constitution and put loyalty to the country above loyalty to persons or parties.

When I went to Ilagan, Isabela, many years ago, as a guest of his eldest son Joji, the people there told me that Celso was a fine young man and a gentleman. They remember him for his humility and his smile. We look up to former CoA Chairman Gangan as the paragon of many virtues in the service of his country and people.

“He served as chair of the committee on government audit and voiced strongly for the creation of CoA as a collegial body.

“Gangan was worthy of the UN’s exalted post and the Philippines was proud of his posting via landslide votes by no less than the world body.