CARIGARA, Leyte — In a proactive move to boost institutional integrity and eliminate bureaucratic blind spots, Eastern Visayas State University – Carigara Campus (EVSU-CC) employees underwent a rigorous two-day intensive training seminar focused on reinforcing accountability, transparency, and gender-responsive leadership in public administration on June 3-4, 2026, at the campus library.

The seminar, titled “Anti-Corruption Laws Series (ACLS): Promoting Ethical, Accountable, and Gender-Responsive Governance in Public Service,” brought top-tier legal minds directly to the campus. The seminar aimed to weaponize the workforce with complete legal literacy, transforming everyday employees into hyper-aware, responsible, and highly effective public servants capable of navigating complex administrative responsibilities safely and ethically.

To deliver this high-stakes training, the institution tapped elite legal experts from the Office of the Ombudsman (Area Office for the Visayas)—the primary constitutional watchdog mandated to spearhead graft prevention, public assistance, investigation, adjudication, and prosecution across the region.

The first leg of the series featured a comprehensive keynote lecture by Atty. Janice G. Gabrito, who broke down the rigid statutory boundaries governing public service. Her lectures anchored heavily on the strict mandates of Republic Act 6713 (the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), the severe legal thresholds of Republic Act 3019 (the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and the high-profile classifications under Republic Act 7080 (the Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder). Bridging the gap between strict law and institutional equity, Atty. Gabrito also detailed the prevailing laws, rules, and regulations governing Gender and Development (GAD) to ensure administrative policies remain genuinely inclusive.

The legal momentum carried straight into the second day as Atty. Julmane N. Plaza took the floor to deconstruct institutional checks and criminal liabilities. Atty. Plaza unpacked the foundational mechanics of Republic Act 6770, otherwise known as the Ombudsman Act of 1989, outlining the heavy oversight powers of the anti-graft body. He further itemized the common crimes committed by public officers codified under the Revised Penal Code, detailing the exact criminal and administrative vulnerabilities that state workers frequently face due to negligence or lack of awareness.

Seminar were interactive as speakers presented examples of decided cases that could enhance understanding of the laws. Participants also were then encouraged to answer and raise questions related to the topics discussed.

By stripping away legal ambiguities and laying bare the real-world consequences of administrative lapses, the multi-day event concluded with a renewed institutional pledge to uphold the highest standards of ethics, proving that a transparent and fully informed campus workforce is the ultimate defense against corruption.