Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) — The Office of the Ombudsman, which goes after corrupt and erring government officials and employees, is getting another ₱51.468 million for its confidential fund in 2023, the same amount secured this year.
Amid criticisms on the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds to various civilian agencies, Senate committee on finance chairman Sonny Angara said the Ombudsman is leaving it to Congress to determine the final amount.
During plenary deliberations on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said the Ombudsman should be the “model agency” in the reporting and liquidation of confidential funds.
He noted the Ombudsman has been receiving confidential funds since 2018.
“Kasi kung hindi natin maiwasan, hindi natin ma-zero ang confidential funds all over government bureaucracy, at least may (Because if we can’t prevent it, can’t remove the confidential funds all over government bureaucracy, at least there is a) model agency which the COA (Commission on Audit) can point to and then tell other agencies with confidential funds that this is the way to be more transparent in the reporting and use of confidential funds,” Pimentel said.
“We prefer itemization for transparency sake. The Ombudsman already knows the rules on how to report or liquidate the use of confidential funds, and for what items these can be used,” he said.
Pimentel said the Senate was in “full support” of the Ombudsman’s existence and to strengthen the latter’s fight against corruption.
CNN Philippines Correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
