Chief of Public Affairs
Atty. Nicasio A. Conti was the youngest Assistant Secretary at the Office of the Presidential Chief of Staff and Head of the Malacanang-based Transparency Group (2003-2004), the anti-corruption group that initiated the lifestyle checks, lauded by World Bank as an effective tool in instilling integrity in public service. He was awarded by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) as the Outstanding Law Enforcer for the year 2004 for courageously taking a step farther in advancing the cause against corruption in government.
He finished his Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College of Law in 1998 and admitted to the Philippine Bar in the succeeding year. He also obtained from San Beda College his AB Economics (cum laude, 1994) and graduating as class salutatorian.
He was a speaker and lecturer on various topics on anti-corruption and whistle-blowing. He is a member of the Philippine technical working group (TWG) on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the House of Representatives Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulations TWG on the proposed anti-red tape bills and the Department of Trade and Industry TWG on addressing investors’ concerns.
He is one of the founders of the Business for Integrity and Stability of Our Nation (BISYON 2020), a business initiated and business-led private, non- stock, non-profit foundation whose primary aim is to establish a continuing and sustainable source of resources to support and maintain anti-corruption advocacy and programs. He is also the Director for Government Affairs of the Philippine Marketing Association from year 2003 to present and introduced the Marketing in Government (MIG) program for government personnel aimed to improve frontline services of the government and to advance the concept of social marketing including the promotion of zero tolerance on corruption.
In 2003, he attended the first global post-graduate course on corruption studies as a USAID-EGTA scholar at the Hong Kong University School of Profession and Continuing Education under Tony Kwok Man Wai, former Deputy Commissioner of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), where he was merited the Highest Award of Distinction.
He was the author of the book “To Serve with Honor: A Primer Against Corruption” which according to Secretary Rigoberto D. Tiglao is not only the result of academic studies but a reflection of his experience in an actual campaign against corruption. According to Mr. Tony Kwok, it is a useful reference not only in the Philippines, but also in other nations which are burdened by the high cost of dishonesty in public service.
