Proposed legislation to strengthen the fight against corruption by empowering the Office of the Ombudsman will be among the partial recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following its investigation into the flood control scandal, Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Thursday.
Lacson said these include allowing the undermanned Office of the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers as prosecutors, and giving it a law enforcement arm to apply for search warrants and follow up the investigation of corruption-related cases.
“One recommendation is based on the suggestion of former Senate President Franklin Drilon to allow the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers to help in prosecuting cases, because the Office of the Ombudsman is very undermanned. If we allow it to deputize private lawyers to act as prosecutors by way of legislation, that would be a good measure,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.
In Filipino: Lacson: Mga Panukalang Magpapalakas sa Ombudsman Kabilang sa Bahagyang Rekomendasyon ng Blue Ribbon sa Isyu ng Flood Control
