Ombudsman seeks over P140-M confidential funds for 2027

The Office of the Ombudsman is seeking over P140 million for its confidential expenses under its budget for 2027.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has recommended a budget of P7.232 billion, including automatic appropriations, for the Office of the Ombudsman. This represents 0.100% of the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget in 2027.

During the briefing at the House Committee on Appropriations, Ombudsman director for finance and management service Christopher Lim said they are seeking P148,532,000 additional confidential funds.

The figure is higher than DBM's recommended amount of P51.468 million for confidential expenses under the Ombudsman's maintenance and other operating expenses.

"The recommended maintenance and other operating expenses amounting to P2.446 billion include a provision for P51.468 million for confidential expenses in support of the Office of the Ombudsman's constitutionality mandated functions of investigation, prosecution, and graft prevention," said Lim.

The Ombudsman official assured that the budget allocated for them will be utilized well.

"The Office of the Ombudsman, in return, commits that the budgetary support it needs will not be spent aimlessly but will be utilized with the usual zeal and dedication to enhance the confidence of the general public in the OMB as their watchdog, mobilizer, official critic, and dispenser of justice because the Filipino deserves no less," said Lim.

For his part, Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno supported the call for a higher confidential budget for the Ombudsman.

"Sa palagay ko, kayo yung nangangailangan ng mas malalaking confidential funds kaysa sa ibang ahensya na tinututukan natin sa kaso ng impeachment," he said.

(I think you need huge confidential funds more than the agencies involved in the impeachment trial.)

Meanwhile, House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mikaela Suansing said they will take into consideration the Ombudsman's request for confidential funds.

"May I request it in writing because we would have to submit for the deliberation of the budget amendments review sub-committee [...] Given the important mandate of the Ombudsman, we wanted to make sure that we give you the resources to be able to perform the important work you are doing," she said. — BAP, GMA News