Photo courtesy of the Office of the Ombudsman.
The Senate is considering adding to the Office of the Ombudsman’s confidential funds for 2027 after the agency’s request was slashed by Php 96 million under the proposed national budget.
The anti-graft body had sought Php 147 million for confidential expenses, but only Php 51 million was included in the National Expenditure Program.
Sen. JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate finance committee, signaled support for a higher allocation following the panel’s budget hearing Thursday.
Ejercito argued that the Ombudsman has a stronger case for confidential funds because its mandate includes investigating corruption and other wrongdoing involving public officials.
He said such funds should generally be concentrated among agencies performing investigative, law enforcement and national security functions.
Still, Ejercito tempered expectations that Congress would return the allocation to the Php 147 million originally sought by the Ombudsman.
“We cannot promise that the P147M requested by the Ombudsman will be restored… But we might add a little,” Ejercito said.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said receiving the full amount would significantly help the agency, but acknowledged that it must be prepared to operate with whatever funding Congress eventually approves.
The proposed Php 51 million for confidential expenses forms part of the Ombudsman’s Php 7.2-billion proposed budget for 2027.