Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. 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 Thursday morning during the Senate finance committee’s hearing tackling the Office of the Ombudsman’s proposed budget for 2027.
In Filipino: Lacson, Isinusulong ang Dagdag-Badyet, Pinalawak na Fiscal Autonomy para sa Ombudsman
“Kung may gain ang national government or Treasury sa restitution, part of that would be earmarked para madagdagan ang budget (If the national government or Treasury gains from restitution, part of that could be earmarked to boost the Ombudsman’s budget),” he 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 no one can touch that part of the resituted amount),” he added.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla thanked Lacson for the proposal. “That’s very appreciated, we appreciate that very much,” he 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 (If we use the HK ICAC as a benchmark, its budget takes up 0.38 percent of Hong Kong’s budget. Here, the Ombudsman is getting just 0.1 percent of the budget. If we use the ICAC benchmark, the Ombudsman should be getting at least P25.8 billion, much more than P7.2 bilion),” Lacson noted.
Lacson 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’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. Rest assured the Senate under the leadership of the Senate President will be four square behind efforts of the Ombudsman,” he added.
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Lacson, Isinusulong ang Dagdag-Badyet, Pinalawak na Fiscal Autonomy para sa Ombudsman
Isinusulong ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang mas mataas na badyet para sa Office of the Ombudsman sa 2027 at mas malawak na fiscal autonomy para sa ahensya na katulad ng Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act (RA 12233), sabay mungkahi na maglaan ng bahagi ng mga pondong ibinabalik sa national government mula sa mga kaso ng katiwalian, kabilang ang flood control scandal, upang madagdagan ang badyet nito.
Inilahad ni Lacson ang mga panukalang ito nitong Huwebes ng umaga sa pagdinig ng Senate finance committee hinggil sa panukalang badyet ng Office of the Ombudsman para sa 2027.
“Kung may gain ang national government or Treasury sa restitution, part of that would be earmarked para madagdagan ang budget,” aniya.
“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,” dagdag niya.
Pinasalamatan naman ni Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla si Lacson para sa panukala. “That’s very appreciated, we appreciate that very much,” aniya.
Nanawagan din si Lacson para sa mas mataas na badyet ng Office of the Ombudsman para sa 2027, kabilang ang pondo para sa law enforcement service nito, upang mas mahusay nitong magampanan ang mandato nitong labanan ang katiwalian.
Sinabi niya na habang ang mga anti-corruption agency sa ibang bansa gaya ng Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) ng Hong Kong ay tumatanggap ng 0.38 porsyento ng kabuuang badyet ng Hong Kong, nasa 0.1 porsyento lamang ang bahagi ng Ombudsman sa National Expenditure Program.
Naghain ang Ombudsman ng panukalang badyet na P12.796 bilyon para sa 2027, ngunit ibinaba ito ng Department of Budget and Management sa P7.232 bilyon.
“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,” ani Lacson.
Binanggit din ni Lacson na dahil humihingi ang Office of the Ombudsman ng P1.68 bilyon para mapunan ang 1,247 bakanteng posisyon ngunit maaaring abutin ng hindi bababa sa tatlong taon upang mapunan ang lahat ng ito, maaaring i-realign ang bahagi ng P1.68 bilyon para sa panukalang Ombudsman Marshall Service, ang law enforcement arm ng ahensya.
Ang paglikha ng Ombudsman Marshall Service at karagdagang mga posisyon upang palakasin ang General Administration and Support units ay mangangailangan ng P163.68 milyon (PS) at P3.799 milyon (MOOE).
Samantala, si Lacson, na naghain ng panukalang batas para likhain ang Ombudsman Marshall Service, ay nagmungkahi rin na maaari itong pamunuan ng isang taong hindi kinakailangang abogado ngunit may hindi bababa sa 10 taong karanasan sa law enforcement o investigative work.
Sinabi ni Remulla na maaaring kuwalipikado si Assistant Ombudsman Eliseo Cruz na pamunuan ang Marshall Service dahil sa kanyang karanasan sa law enforcement.
Isinusulong din ni Lacson ang pagkakaroon ng statutory protection para sa Ombudsman na magbibigay rito ng “full fiscal autonomy,” hindi lamang sa yugto ng pagpapatupad kundi maging sa yugto ng paghahanda ng panukalang badyet, upang mapalakas ang integridad at independence nito sa proseso ng pagbabadyet.
“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 like Judicial Marshal Service, fiscal autonomy, etc. Rest assured the Senate under the leadership of the Senate President will be four square behind efforts of the Ombudsman,” dagdag niya.
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