The Philippine Senate on Monday ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption, a local report said.

Voting 17-0, the Senate approved the international convention which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003, according to a report by Inquirer news network.

The convention sets minimum international standards in the fight against corruption and seeks to promote international cooperation, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was quoted as saying. She is the head of the Senate committee on foreign relations and sponsor of Senate Resolution 531, the report said.

The UN Convention itself entered into force on Dec. 14, 2005. almost one year before the Philippines officially became a member.

Source: Xinhua