Philippines audit chief Heidi Mendoza to head UN's internal watchdog body

UNITED NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he intends to appoint Heidi Mendoza, who has been a top auditor in her native Philippines and at U.N. agencies, to head the U.N.'s internal watchdog body.

Mendoza will become undersecretary-general for Internal Oversight Services for a five-year term once the U.N. General Assembly gives its expected formal approval.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in announcing the appointment Monday that Mendoza, a certified public accountant, has over 20 year of government service, particularly in the field of audit, investigation, fraud examination, anti-corruption and "integrity advocacy."

She currently heads the Philippines Commission of Audit and chairs a key external auditing board for the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization and International Labor Organization.

Mendoza will succeed Carmen Lapointe of Canada whose term ended in September.