Strengthen the Office of Ombudsman as an institution

During a Senate budget hearing last Tuesday, October 7, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales asked for an additional P160 million on top of the P1.7 billion that will be given to the Office of the Ombudsman for 2015. The breakdown is P100 million for the Ombudsman office in Mindanao, and the balance of P60 million is for confidential (intelligence) funds, supplies, materials and professional services needed.

I completely agree with Ombudsman Morales that the additional amount of P160 million she is requesting is picayune, compared to the budget of other government agencies. In fact, I was rather surprised why she did not ask for an increase of P300 million so that her office can receive P2 billion under next year’s budget.