Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla defended his office’s proposed P51.4 million confidential fund budget for 2027, saying the agency is pursuing more investigations and cases.
The Ombudsman originally asked for P147 million, but the Department of Budget and Management reduced it to P51.4 million.
Remulla’s predecessor Ombudsman Samuel Martires had only asked for P1 million, and Finance Committee Chair Sen. JV Ejercito asked Remulla why he was seeking a bigger amount.
“I think we’re more aggressive in pursuing investigations, your honor, and purchasing information and other things needed that require confidential funds to be utilized,” Remulla said at the Senate hearing on his office’s budget.
This prompted Ejercito to remark, “Kaya pala natutulog noon.”
Sen. Vicente Sotto III said Remulla’s request was a “drop in the bucket” given what the Office of the Ombudsman is doing.
“As a matter of fact, there was one office of government that had P125 million five times for confidential funds,” Sotto said.
Ejercito said the Senate will confine confidential funds to law enforcement and investigative agencies and those dealing with national security.
“Of course, the Office of the Ombudsman, in its drive against corruption, will be one of them,” he said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the confidential funds sought by the Ombudsman was “minuscule” compared to the number of corruption cases it is handling.
“I think the P51 million is well justified so that we can strengthen the cases that we will file,” he said.
The Office of the Ombudsman has a proposed budget of P7.23 billion for 2027.
Remulla later told reporters that his office would make do with P51.4 million if his original request would not be restored.
But it would be a big help if it is given a higher amount.