To augment funds, Ombudsman to collect processing fees for clearances

Published February 6, 2014 11:59am

Starting this month, the Office of the Ombudsman will collect processing fees for those seeking an Ombudsman clearance "to augment the funds for anti-corruption programs."

An Ombudsman Clearance is an official document certifying that a person has no criminal, administrative or forfeiture case pending with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Under Office Circular No. 07 series of 2014, the processing fees ranges from P100 to P1,000.

P100 - for retirement purposes, rationalization, resignation and death claims
P150.00 - for employment, promotion, transfer, appointment, confirmation, discharge, foreign assignment and grant of benefits unrelated to the preceding purpose
P200.00 - for foreign travel, foreign assignment, study grant/scholarship, recognition/awards, leave application, loan application, change of name, and as part of other documentary requirements
P500.00 - for permit to carry firearms, fidelity bond and bidding requirement
P1,000.00 - for firearm licenses

An Ombudsman statement issued Thursday said payment may be made in cash or postal money order payable to the “Office of the Ombudsman.”

But applications filed before February 1, 2014 are still exempt from paying the processing fee, it added.

If there is a pending case against the applicant, the Ombudsman shall instead issue a Certification of pending case/s filed with the Office.

In 2012, the Ombudsman was allowed to collect processing fees in issuing clearances. But it was suspended until the assistant Ombudsman for finance have studied and issued a recommendation, the same statement said.

Aside from physical applications at the Ombudsman offices in Quezon City, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro and Davao, online application is also available. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/RSJ, GMA News

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