Ombudsman can work with P1 million in confidential funds

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The Office of the Ombudsman needs P51 million in confidential funds but can work with P1 million, Ombudsman Samuel Martires told the Senate Committee on Finance on Monday.

According to Nimfa Ravelo's report on Super Radyo dzBB, Martires made the disclosure during the Senate committee's hearing on the Ombudsman's proposed budget in 2025 worth P5.2 billion.

The Ombudsman is the constitutional body tasked to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing among government workers and officials.

The Department of Budget and Management has proposed in the National Expenditure Program P51 million worth of confidential funds for the Ombudsman in 2025.

“Of course your honor, we need the P51 million but like I said there are other investigating agencies who need this money more than us,” Martires said.

“If you can give us the same amount that you gave us last year in 2024, the P1 million, that would be very sufficient for us your honor,” he added.

The Ombudsman also requested P975 million to hire 62 lawyers.

Because of the lack of lawyers, Martires said there was an ordinate delay in reviewing and filing cases against corrupt government officials which resulted in the dismissal of cases.

He added that it took two to three years to complete the investigation of cases relating to corrupt government officials.

Of the total proposed budget, P3.1 billion is allotted for personal services, P2 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses and P515 million for capital outlay.

The Ombudsman also requested P400 million to set up satellite offices across the country and P18 million to hire casual or contractual employees for its project on digitalization. —NB, GMA Integrated News