Ombudsman plans to use AI in fight against corruption

The Office of the Ombudsman is planning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to investigate and prosecute graft and corruption cases. 

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said this on Friday during the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberations into the proposed P6.390 billion budget of his office for 2026. 

“In light of the digitization stage that we want to undergo, probably we will also seek to ask experts in artificial intelligence to help us process information faster. Because of the volume of the documents that we have and the volume of transactions, we may have to go AI, and we’re just having a consultant to give us advice very soon,” Remulla said. 

“I think it’s a good opportunity to start using technology to combat corruption because the widespread scope of corruption is just there throughout the whole country, and artificial intelligence can shorten the chase or just cut the chase, so to speak, Mr. Chairman,” he added. 

Gatchalian, chairman of the committee, welcomed the development, saying that his team in the Senate is also using AI to help them analyze and give summaries of voluminous reports. 

“The use of AI, particularly in your field, nakikita ko necessity na ngayon (it has become a necessity now), from now and in the next few years. And the technology is getting very sophisticated,” the senator said. 

Remulla earlier vowed swift action on matters related to the investigation of the flood control corruption scandal. 

Last month, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) filed its initial referral before the Ombudsman in relation to the alleged irregularities in flood control projects. 

The ICI sent a report to the Ombudsman recommending that charges of graft, malversation, and falsification be brought against former Ako Bicol congressman Zaldy Co and other officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways for their supposed involvement in the P289.5-million road dike project along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The ICI said that based on the DPWH documents and inspection, the government lost an estimated P63 million due to materials being substandard and unaligned to required specifications.

The steel sheet piles that were installed for the road dike measured only 2.5 to 3 meters, even though the contract’s Detailed Engineering Design specified that they should be 12 meters long.

The ICI also noted apparent deficiencies in documentation supporting progress billings, with several payments approved despite missing records, and, in some instances, identical photographs were reused to justify separate billings.

Remulla announced Friday that Co may be among those who will face cases at the Sandiganbayan over the flood control controversy. —VBL, GMA Integrated News