The Senate Finance Subcommittee A on Friday scrutinized the proposed P6.39-billion budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for fiscal year 2026, with lawmakers pressing the constitutional body to address widespread corruption, particularly in flood control projects.
Led by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the hearing focused on how the Ombudsman plans to restore public trust amid allegations of ghost infrastructure projects and slow-moving corruption cases.
“Our Ombudsman has a huge role and responsibility to hold accountable those who should be held accountable and to imprison those who should be imprisoned,” Gatchalian said.
Meanwhile, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla defended the proposed budget, outlining reforms aimed at speeding up investigations and improving the quality of case resolutions.
He said preliminary investigations, which used to take six months to a year, will now be completed within 60 days to prevent delays.
Under the new system, cases supported by complete and certified evidence will skip the fact-finding phase and proceed directly to formal investigation.
The Ombudsman also plans to request continuous trials and file cases only when prima facie evidence is established to ensure the integrity of prosecutions.
Senators expressed support for the proposed reforms and vowed to provide special provisions and additional funding to help fast-track the resolution of pending corruption cases.
Gatchalian urged the Ombudsman to take decisive action in changing the public perception that corruption remains deeply entrenched in government institutions.
He cited the 2024 global corruption index, where the Philippines ranked 114th, far behind regional peers such as Singapore at third, Malaysia at 57th, Vietnam at 88th, Indonesia at 99th, and Thailand at 107th.
The senator emphasized that improving these rankings requires holding erring officials accountable and delivering visible results that reinforce transparency and accountability.
He said the Ombudsman’s credibility will depend on how swiftly it can secure convictions in high-profile corruption cases, particularly those involving ghost projects.
During the budget hearing, Gatchalian also pressed Remulla to provide an update on flood control project anomalies, noting that 121 ghost infrastructure projects had been uncovered and at least five cases were ready for filing.
Remulla confirmed that the cases have been completed and transmitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), with evidence and witnesses ready for prosecution.
He said his office is determined to file charges within the next month, assuring lawmakers that investigations will no longer take years to complete.
