MANILA, Philippines — Senators are moving to strengthen the Office of the Ombudsman’s 2027 budget, saying the country’s anti-graft watchdog needs greater resources as it handles a growing workload, including investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
The Senate Committee on Finance approved at the committee level a ₱7.232-billion proposed budget for the Ombudsman for 2027, clearing the way for further deliberation in the Senate plenary.
But the figure remains well below what the Ombudsman originally requested.
The agency initially sought approximately ₱12.797 billion, creating a gap of about ₱5.57 billion between its request and the amount recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The proposed 2027 allocation is nevertheless about ₱646 million higher than the ₱6.577 billion allocation for 2026.
Senators see need to strengthen the anti-graft watchdog
The budget discussion comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Ombudsman, which is pursuing a large number of corruption-related investigations.
Senate Finance Committee chair Sen. JV Ejercito said lawmakers support measures intended to strengthen the agency’s investigative capabilities.
One proposal receiving attention is the creation of an Ombudsman Marshal Service, which would initially have 100 positions nationwide.
The proposed service would help serve cyber warrants, secure evidence, enforce orders and provide protection and security support for investigators. The Ombudsman is seeking roughly ₱168 million for the initiative.
Ejercito said having personnel directly assigned to the Ombudsman could improve enforcement because they would be specifically vetted and dedicated to the agency’s work.
Flood control investigations add pressure
The push for additional resources comes as the Ombudsman investigates alleged anomalies involving government flood control projects.
During the Senate hearing, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla reported that 35 cases had already been filed in court, while 166 cases were undergoing preliminary investigation.
The agency was also conducting 107 lifestyle checks connected with its anti-corruption work.
The figures underscore why senators are examining whether the Ombudsman has enough personnel, facilities and investigative resources to handle the workload.
Remulla has argued that faster investigations and prosecutions are necessary because cases that remain unresolved for years can face problems involving lost evidence, unavailable witnesses and allegations of inordinate delay.
More than half of Ombudsman positions remain vacant
One of the biggest questions raised during the budget hearing was not simply how much money the Ombudsman should receive—but whether the agency can actually use it efficiently.
The Ombudsman requested about ₱1.68 billion to fill 1,247 vacant positions.
According to figures presented to the Senate, the agency has 2,439 authorized positions, but only 1,192 were filled, leaving a vacancy rate of about 51.1%.
Remulla said the agency has already begun accelerating recruitment.
It hired 60 lawyers in 2026 and expects to hire another 40 by November. About 3,700 applicants reportedly applied for the 100 lawyer positions being filled this year.
However, the Ombudsman acknowledged that filling all vacancies would take time.
Remulla estimated that the agency could hire more than 400 personnel within another year if resources were available, but filling the entire plantilla could take roughly three years.
Senators question whether the money can be absorbed
Sen. Panfilo Lacson questioned whether the Ombudsman could realistically utilize the entire staffing allocation given the agency’s current vacancy rate and the lengthy government hiring process.
The discussion highlights a difficult budget question: Should Congress provide the full amount requested if the agency may not immediately have the capacity to spend it?
Lacson suggested that some funding could potentially be redirected toward other priorities, including the proposed marshal service, particularly if the staffing allocation cannot be fully obligated within the applicable period.
The debate therefore goes beyond simply increasing the Ombudsman’s budget. Senators are also looking at whether additional appropriations will translate into faster investigations, stronger cases and more efficient enforcement.
Confidential funds become another flashpoint
Another contentious part of the budget is the Ombudsman’s request for confidential funds.
The agency originally requested about ₱148 million, but the DBM-recommended budget contains approximately ₱51.47 million.
Remulla said the funds could support sensitive investigative operations, including the establishment of safe quarters for witnesses and, in some situations, marshals.
Ejercito said the Senate could not promise to restore the entire requested amount but indicated that lawmakers could consider increasing the allocation.
He also stressed that confidential funds remain subject to accountability requirements and must be used for legitimate investigative purposes.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian likewise defended the proposed allocation, saying the amount was relatively small compared with the scale of the corruption cases being investigated by the Ombudsman.
New headquarters also on the table
The Ombudsman is also seeking funding for a new headquarters.
Remulla cited space constraints at the agency’s existing facilities, saying the cramped environment affects its ability to accommodate additional lawyers, prosecutors and other personnel.
The agency identified a ₱1.465-billion office-building acquisition among its priority items for possible restoration in the 2027 budget.
Ejercito said senators would study the proposal carefully, including the possibility of acquiring an existing government or private building rather than constructing an entirely new facility.
One option being explored is whether suitable properties vacated following the closure of some Philippine offshore gaming operator facilities could be acquired at a lower cost.
Why the 2027 budget matters
The proposed budget comes as the Ombudsman faces a substantial backlog.
As of June 30, 2026, the agency had 4,219 pending cases, including 1,955 criminal cases, 2,258 administrative cases and six forfeiture cases, according to GMA News’ report on the Senate hearing.
The Ombudsman has also been trying to accelerate its fact-finding process, with shorter target periods for simple and complex cases.
The agency’s leadership has argued that strengthening personnel, investigative capabilities and enforcement mechanisms could help prevent corruption cases from languishing for years.
The next battle moves to the Senate floor
The Senate Finance Committee’s approval is not yet the final budget.
The proposed ₱7.232-billion allocation will proceed to plenary deliberations, where senators can still debate and propose changes before the measure moves through the remaining congressional budget process.
That leaves several major questions unresolved: How much additional funding will the Ombudsman ultimately receive? Will senators restore more of the agency’s requested funds? And can the anti-graft watchdog turn additional appropriations into faster, stronger investigations?
With dozens of flood control cases already in court and hundreds more under investigation, the answers could have significant consequences for the government’s broader anti-corruption campaign.
For the Ombudsman, the fight is no longer simply about getting a bigger budget—it is about getting enough resources to turn investigations into cases that can actually stand up in court.
WWC ONE MEDIA M.J.E
Leave a Reply