The Office of the Ombudsman has seen a significant spike in job applications following its increasingly vocal and aggressive stance against high-ranking government officials tied to corruption.
According to Assistant Ombudsman for Internal Affairs Luigi Bonoan, the agency has been flooded with over 3,500 applications for just 114 permanent vacancies opened last month.
The available slots accommodate both legal and non-legal professionals to foster a multi-disciplinary strategy in countering public anomalies.
Bonoan linked this surge of interest to a growing public desire for accountability, integrity, and good governance in public service.
“It says that a lot of people believe in what we’re doing here. People want to be part of the good fight,” said Bonoan.
The sudden influx follows heightened public awareness online regarding the agency’s high-profile investigations, which now include probes into several senators and congressmen.
Currently, the anti-graft body is heavily engaged in investigating and prosecuting alleged kickbacks and irregularities surrounding national flood control projects and various government infrastructure programs.
Bonoan emphasized that a larger talent pool will fortify the agency’s anti-corruption campaigns, noting that the office requires diverse expertise outside of traditional law enforcement.
“We’re not just looking to fill positions. We’re looking to build a strong organization. The best way to do that is to get the best people,” Bonoan said.
“It can’t just be legal and purely investigatory. We want specialized people. We want engineers, accountants, even medical professionals,” he added.