Senator Ping Lacson is pushing for a higher 2027 budget and expanded fiscal autonomy for the Office of the Ombudsman similar to the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act (RA 12233), while proposing that a portion of funds restituted to the national government in corruption cases including the flood control scandal be earmarked to augment the agency’s budget.
Lacson raised these proposals during the Senate finance committee’s hearing tackling the Office of the Ombudsman’s proposed budget for 2027.
“Kung may gain ang national government or Treasury sa restitution, part of that would be earmarked para madagdagan ang budget,” the veteran legislator said.
“Maybe 10-20% of whatever amount is restituted should be earmarked and it’s covered by law so ‘di pwedeng galawin ang part of the restituted amount.”
“Maybe 10-20% of whatever amount is restituted should be earmarked and it’s covered by law so ‘di pwedeng galawin ang part of the restituted amount,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla thanked the senator for the proposal.
“That’s very appreciated, we appreciate that very much,” Remulla said.
Lacson also called for a higher 2027 budget for the Office of the Ombudsman, including its law enforcement service, so it can better fulfill its mandate to fight corruption.
He said that while anti-corruption agencies abroad like Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) receives 0.38 percent of Hong Kong’s overall budget, the Ombudsman is getting a measly 0.1 percent in the National Expenditure Program.
The Ombudsman proposed a budget of P12.796 billion for 2027, but the Department of Budget and Management slashed it to P7.232 billion.
“If we compare as benchmark ng ICAC ng HK, ang kanilang percentage sa total budget ay 0.38%, ‘yan ang na-allocate ng HK SAR sa ICAC. Compare that to the Ombudsman, nandoon lang tayo sa 0.1%. Kung susundan natin benchmark ng ICAC, dapat P25.8 billion ang inyong budget. Napakalayo sa P7.2 billion,” Lacson noted.
He also noted that with the Office of the Ombudsman seeking some P1.68 billion to fill 1,247 vacant positions but needing at least three years to complete the task, part of the P1.68 billion can be realigned for the proposed Ombudsman Marshall Service, the agency’s own law enforcement arm.
The creation of the Ombudsman Marshall Service and additional positions to augment the General Administration and Support units would require P163.68 million (PS) and P3.799 million (MOOE).
Meanwhile, Lacson, who had filed a bill creating the Ombudsman Marshall Service, also proposed that it be headed by someone who may not necessarily be a lawyer but one with at least 10 years of law enforcement or investigative experience.
Remulla said Assistant Ombudsman Eliseo Cruz may be qualified to head the Marshall Service due to his experience in law enforcement.
Lacson also pushed for statutory protection for the Ombudsman that would provide it with “full fiscal autonomy” not just in the implementation stage but also in the proposal stage, to enhance its integrity and independence during the budgeting process.
“We are really very supportive of the efforts of the Ombudsman and in whatever capacity makatulong kami.”
“We’re quietly but surely assisting the Ombudsman in this regard. I understand the complexity of the problem, the volume of graft and corruption cases… That’s why we are really very supportive of the efforts of the Ombudsman and in whatever capacity makatulong kami (we can help) like Judicial Marshal Service, fiscal autonomy, etc.,” he stressed.
“Rest assured the Senate, under the leadership of the Senate President, will be four square behind efforts of the Ombudsman,” Lacson concluded.
