House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima urged the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and President Marcos to expedite the selection of the next Ombudsman, which has remained pending since former Ombudsman Samuel Martires retired on July 27.
De Lima made the statement after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) recommended to the Ombudsman the filing of criminal and administrative charges against former Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and 17 others over anomalies in the P290 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
“In light of massive issues of corruption our country faces today, there is an urgent need for the appointment of the regular Ombudsman, as the agency will certainly receive many complaints and recommendations from the ICI,” De Lima of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list said.
“With the extent of the collusion and the number of legislators and government officials involved in the anomalous flood control projects, there is a need for a regular Ombudsman who can really focus and respond to the complaints that land in their office,” she added in Filipino.
During deliberations on the Office of the Ombudsman’s proposed 2026 budget, De Lima stressed the need for the agency to act promptly, be more transparent, and be more receptive to complaints of graft and corruption.
“As the ICI investigation progresses, it is expected to recommend additional complaints to the Office of the Ombudsman. With other corruption cases, this will certainly keep their office busy—underscoring the urgent need for an Ombudsman to lead the process,” the Bicolana lawmaker reiterated.
