Cebu City, Philippines — As President of the Consortium of Private Colleges and Universities in Region 7 (COPCU7), Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT University) hosts the anti-corruption forum, a collective stand of private higher education institutions in Central Visayas titled “Breaking the Chains of Corruption: Restoring Integrity, Strengthening Laws, and Empowering Citizens in the Philippines.” The event was organized by COPCU 7 in collaboration with the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).
The forum was a unified call from private colleges and universities to confront corruption as a threat to justice, good governance, and nation-building. The program opened with a prayer led by Dr. Nona B. Suerte, CIT-U Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education of CIT University, followed by the Philippine National Anthem.
In his opening remarks, Engr. Bernard Nicolas E. Villamor, President of CIT University and COPCU7 Chair, underscored the duty of educational institutions to form leaders who embody integrity and accountability.
The main program featured three keynote speakers. Associate Justice Gabriel T. Ingles (Ret.), former magistrate of the Court of Appeals Visayas, spoke on the legal and moral imperatives of integrity in public service. Atty. Jonathan P. Capanas, CPA, Dean of the School of Law at the University of San Jose–Recoletos, emphasized the role of legal education in strengthening the fight against corruption. Fr. Rogelio K. Bag-ao, SVD, Provincial Superior of the SVD-PH Southern Province, offered a faith-based perspective, highlighting the spiritual dimension of honesty and accountability.
A panel discussion and open forum followed, moderated by Atty. Jose Glenn C. Capanas, Dean of the School of Law and Governance of the University of San Carlos. The exchange provided participants with a platform to engage in dialogue on strengthening laws and empowering citizens to take an active role in combating corruption.
The event culminated in the reading of a manifesto and a Prayer for the Philippines led by Rev. Fr. Randolph A. Figuracion, SDB, President of Don Bosco Technical College–Cebu. Students actively participated in this segment, joining in the reading of the manifesto and the singing of the patriotic piece “O Bayan Ko,” which closed the program. Their presence and questions during the open forum reflected a genuine desire to understand their role in building a society founded on truth and accountability.
Symbolized by a sea of white representing purity and honesty, the gathering highlighted the shared conviction of COPCU7 schools: that education is not only about knowledge, but also about shaping leaders who stand for truth, justice, and the common good. Members of the media were also present to amplify this collective call, ensuring that the message of integrity and vigilance resonates far beyond the walls of academe and into the wider Filipino community.