The U.S. State Department has recognized Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto as one the world's 12 Anti-Corruption Champions, validating the millennial leader's efforts to transform patronage-based politics.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the award is individuals who "worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries."
"Around the world, corruption threatens security and stability, hinders economic growth, undermines democracy and human rights, destroys trust in public institutions, facilitates transnational crime, and siphons away public and private resources," Blinken said.
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Blinken said the only way to successfully combat the global threat of corruption is to collaborate with committed partners, including "courageous individuals who champion anticorruption efforts and countries working to fulfill their commitments to international anticorruption standards."
Here are the 11 other International Anticorruption Champions:
- Ardian Dvorani of Albania
- Diana Salazar of Ecuador
- Sophia Pretrick of the Federated States of Micronesia
- Juan Francisco Sandoval Alfaro of Guatemala
- Ibrahima Kalil Gueye of Guinea
- Anjali Bhardwaj of India
- Dhuha A. Mohammed of Iraq
- Bolot Temirov of the Kyrgyz Republic
- Mustafa Abdullah Sanalla of Libya
- Francis Ben Kaifala of Sierra Leone
- Ruslan Ryaboshapka of Ukraine
Blinken also noted U.S. President Joe Biden's commitment to fight corruption within the country but also abroad.
