Ombudsman told to be ‘model agency’ in reporting confidential funds use

The Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday was urged to become the "model agency" in terms of being transparent in the utilization of its confidential funds.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III made the call during the continuation of Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2023 national budget.

According to Pimentel, the anti-graft office has been receiving these confidential funds since 2018.

For 2023, the Ombudsman has proposed an amount of P51.468 million for its confidential funds.

"If ever the confidential funds for the Ombudsman will be retained in the 2023 budget, maybe the appeal of this representation, if the Office of the Ombudsman could be the model agency in the reporting and liquidation of the said confidential funds," Pimentel said in mixed English and Filipino.

"Kasi kung talang hindi natin maiwasan, talagang hindi natin ma-zero ang confidential funds all over the government bureaucracy, at least there is a model agency which the [Commission on Audit] can point to, and then tell the other agencies with confidential funds, 'This is the way to be more transparent in the reporting and use of the confidential funds,'" he added.

Senator Sonny Angara, Senate finance committee chairperson, said the Ombudsman will leave it to the Senate if they approve the confidential funds that they requested.

"The Ombudsman, Justice [Samuel] Martires, whispered to me that it's up to us... what level we wish to set it at," Angara said.

In pursuing his point, Pimentel mentioned the case of the Energy Regulatory Commission, which he said, has  agreed to have their confidential realigned as early as the budget deliberations at the Senate finance subcommittee level.

"One good example si ERC. Mayroon ding confidential fund, P15 million, but sa subcommittee level winaive niya na kaagad," Pimentel said.

He said the P15 million was realigned to some other budgetary items within the ERC.

"Si ERC pwedeng ma-cite as a good example in pursuing our call for transparency, more itemization of budget entries," he said.

The Senate has approved the proposed P4.7 billion budget for the Office of the Ombudsman at the plenary level. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News