A Senate subcommittee on Thursday, September 3, approved the proposed ₱7.232-billion budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2027, despite the agency’s original funding request of nearly ₱12.8 billion.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, who chairs the subcommittee under the Senate Committee on Finance, said lawmakers intend to support several of the Ombudsman’s proposed initiatives, including the creation of an Ombudsman Marshal Service.
The agency is seeking an additional ₱168 million to establish the service, which would create 100 positions tasked with serving cyber warrants, securing evidence, enforcing official orders, and providing protection to investigators.
Ejercito said having a dedicated marshal service would help the Ombudsman perform its investigative and enforcement responsibilities more effectively.
“I think the establishment of the Ombudsman Marshal Service will be very important to the performance of their duties. Mas dedicated at mas vetted ang mga personnel na directly assigned sa Ombudsman kaysa i-asa sa ibang law enforcement agency,” Ejercito said.
The panel also received support from several senators for the Ombudsman’s request for ₱51.468 million in confidential funds for 2027.
During the budget hearing, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla explained that the funding would allow the agency to strengthen its efforts in gathering information and pursuing corruption investigations.
“I think we’re more aggressive in pursuing investigations and purchasing information and other things needed that require confidential funds to be utilized,” Remulla said.
The Ombudsman had previously lost its confidential funding during the tenure of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires.
Senate President Win Gatchalian, Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, and Ejercito expressed support for restoring the allocation.
Gatchalian argued that the amount requested was relatively small compared with the seriousness of the corruption cases being investigated by the Ombudsman.
“I do agree that ₱54-million is miniscule compared to the gravity of the corruption cases we are embroiled in. And the Ombudsman is tasked to resolve all of those corruption issues,” Gatchalian said.
He added that confidential funds may be appropriately used to obtain information that could help investigators establish evidence and strengthen cases brought before the Ombudsman.
Sotto also endorsed the request, saying the proposed allocation was modest given the scope of the agency’s responsibilities.
“That’s even a drop in the bucket kung tutuusin for what the Ombudsman is doing. As a matter of fact, there was one office of government that had ₱125-million five times for confidential funds,” Sotto said.
Ejercito likewise backed the funding, emphasizing that confidential funds should be reserved for agencies performing law enforcement, investigative, and national security functions.
“As we mentioned in these budget hearings, we will confine confidential funds only to law enforcement agencies, investigative agencies and those connected with national security. Of course, the Office of the Ombudsman in its drive against corruption will be one of them,” Ejercito said.
He also defended the amount as reasonable compared with previous allocations.
“I think ₱54-million will be very much justified, mababa na nga compared to ₱1 million noon. Sabi ko nga, hindi ko alam kung nagtatrabaho noon. With ₱1 million, anong mabibili nun?” he added.
The Ombudsman’s proposed 2027 budget will still have to undergo approval by the Senate plenary.
The Department of Budget and Management recommended ₱7.232 billion for the agency, with ₱3.76 billion earmarked for personnel services, ₱2.44 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses, and ₱857 million for capital outlays.
The proposal also provides ₱1.662 billion for filling vacant positions, ₱169 million for pension benefits, and ₱2.6 million for training. Meanwhile, the ₱51.468-million confidential allocation would cover expenses connected to investigation, prosecution, and graft-prevention activities.
The Ombudsman initially submitted a budget request of approximately ₱12.7 billion for 2027. The DBM subsequently reduced the proposed allocation by around ₱5.5 billion, resulting in the ₱7.232-billion recommendation now being considered by Congress.