Gherald Edaño
- Progreso vs. Asenso: What’s next for Abra? - November 20, 2024
- Out of many, Heidi - October 30, 2024
- Running with the Bersamins - October 18, 2024
Of the more than 180 candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy for senator, many were deemed “nuisance” contenders, while others came from political dynasties, or were familiar faces—returning politicians, social media personalities, actors, and TV hosts. Like many, I’ve been sifting through the list, looking for someone who truly stands out. It wasn’t until the final day that one candidate emerged—a true E Pluribus Unum moment—out of many, one. It was former COA commissioner and UN Undersecretary-general Heidi Mendoza. Mendoza will definitely be my number 1 senator in the 2025 senatorial elections.
The three-way test of a good leader is academic excellence, professional excellence, and moral excellence. The late senator Miriam Santiago couldn’t have stressed that enough.
Mendoza, graduated as valedictorian of her high school class, pursued a degree in Accountancy from Sacred Heart College in Lucena City, earning her degree in 1983. The following year, she became a Certified Public Accountant, then built her expertise in financial oversight. Eager to enhance her knowledge and skills, she went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Administration, specializing in Fiscal Administration, from the University of the Philippines-Diliman in 1996. In 2003, she furthered her academic credentials by completing a Master’s degree in National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines.
Her professional journey began when she joined the Commission on Audit (COA) as an Auditing Aide II, rising through the ranks to become State Auditor IV and eventually the Chief of the Value for Money Audit Division, where she consistently demonstrated her exceptional audit skills and ethical rigor. Her career in the COA, spanning 27 years, was marked by high-profile cases that showcased her fearless dedication to fiscal justice and transparency.
She also served as commissioner for the COA (2011-2015) before becoming the United Nations Undersecretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (2015-2019) and as external auditor for international organizations like the World Health Organizations (WHO) and International Labor Organization (ILO).
What stands out more for me is her moral integrity. Being a bureaucrat she is one of those who quietly working without credit to keep our government functioning especially in fiscal integrity through state audit. COA is the independent constitutional body responsible for auditing government finances and ensuring the proper use of public funds. It promotes transparency, accountability, and good governance by monitoring government transactions and issuing audit reports and regulations.
Mendoza was first involved in 1986 audit that led to indict former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. in the misuse of US aid funds. In 1991, while auditing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) amidst her pregnancy, Mendoza uncovered the misuse of P630 million in seed money, resulting in criminal charges against officials for corruption. In 1996, she also audited the Rebel Returnees Funds. Most notably of her audits was in 2011, when Mendoza left her role as a consultant at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and led investigations into anomalies within the military, most notably against former military comptroller and general Carlos Garcia, who was accused of amassing P303.27 million in ill-gotten wealth. In 2012, as COA commissioner, Mendoza implicated former Makati mayor Elenita Binay, wife of former Vice President Jejomar Binay, in a rigged P72-million bidding scheme. Mendoza’s anti-corruption efforts led to threats and opposition, including attempts by Senators Nancy Binay and Jinggoy Estrada to block her COA appointment. Her work also contributed to the impeachment of the Chief Justice and charges against several high-profile officials involved in the “pork barrel” scandal.
Her life and safety were threatened, with her house being ransacked twice. Mendoza needed security protection as a result of her whistle-blowing efforts. Her refusal to back down, even in the face of death threats and bribery attempts, solidified her reputation as a tireless advocate for truth.
Her statement in a recent online interview with Christian Esguerra stating that “public money is sacred” is her defining moment for me on how serious she is in this senate race. She also stated in the same interview calling the public to judge her not by her credentials but by the audit reports she has written. A true opponent of corruption in the government!
She boldly asserts that the pursuit of transparency in public funds is not an act of undermining authority but a fundamental right of citizens. Refuting claims that critics of government practices are enemies of the state, Mendoza maintains that she has never considered herself an adversary to the nation; rather, she believes it is her civic duty to hold public officials accountable for their actions. Her conviction that “corruption is violence” underscores her dedication to combating malfeasance as a means of fostering peace. Mendoza also added that auditors serve as citizens first, prioritizing their ethical obligations over institutional mandates.
For Heidi, fighting corruption is not just a job, but a calling. Her credentials, experience, and struggles are more than enough to qualify her for a senate seat. Standing up against corrupt officials for almost three decades is no easy feat. This makes Heidi Mendoza, for me, out of many – my number one!