Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday, October 5, led a Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights hearing on a measure seeking to strengthen the Office of the Ombudsman by granting it its own anti-corruption law enforcement arm.
Senate Bill No. 2394, filed on August 12 by Senator Panfilo Lacson, proposed creating an Ombudsman Marshall Service with the power to effect arrests, detention, searches and seizures, and various forms of investigation.
In his opening statement, Pangilinan—chair of the justice and human rights committee—cited the multi-billion flood control scam that he described as a “reminder” of the massive corruption that destroys lives, livelihoods, and communities.
“Kaya kailangang bigyan ang Office of the Ombudsman ng sapat na kakayahan at kapangyarihan para maipatupad ang mga ligal nitong utos, masiguro ang mga ebidensiya, at maprotektahan ang mga saksi — lahat para matiyak na hindi makakaiwas sa pananagutan ang mga may poder na lumalabag sa batas,” he stressed.
“Justice delayed or selectively enforced deepens public cynicism and weakens democracy,” the senator added.
During the hearing, he lamented that it took 21 years for the Sandiganbayan to convict officials behind the 2004 fertilizer fund scam.
“All the lawyers here and law enforcement personalities here, I think you all would agree with me. You know, convicting someone after 21 years all criminal — all corruption cases, is not the way to go. And ba’t tayo magtataka ba’t kung walang pigil and massive corruption, kung ganon ang record?,” he asked.
He also deplored a report from the Commission on Audit (COA) stating that P1.3 trillion is lost to corruption annually.
“Kung hindi natin aayusin ito, at hindi natin gagawan ng interventions, e kumuha na lang tayo ng bato at pukpok natin sa ulo natin, kasi ganoon din naman ang magiging resulta,” Pangilinan said.
“And so we need your help, and we would like to provide also the support necessary for the Ombudsman to be able to do its job. And I believe if the Ombudsman was more successful in the past, then these massive flood control scandals would not have happened, and that’s why we want to strengthen your mandate to be able to address this,” he added.
Lacson’s measure will amend Section 15 of Republic Act No. 6770, or the “Ombudsman Act of 1989.”
In his proposal, the Ombudsman Marshall Service will be headed by a special investigator with the rank of deputy ombudsman. Its members will be composed of peace officers (ombudsman marshals) who can effect arrests and conduct searches and seizures.
The peace officers can also carry “suitable and adequate firearms for their personal protection in connection with their duties and for the proper protection of witnesses and persons in custody without need of any special permit from any other government agency.”
Pangilinan said the Senate Committee on Finance supports the agency’s additional funding request of P168 million to create the Ombudsman Marshall Service under the 2027 national budget.
He also underscored that holding public officials accountable when warranted by the evidence is essential to protecting the country’s democracy and upholding the principles of equality, justice, and accountability.
“Kung paano tayo naghahanda para sa Super El Niño, dapat din nating tiyakin na matatapos ang Super Impunity,” he said. “Umaalingawngaw pa rin ang sigaw ng bayan na: ‘Ikulong na ‘yan, mga kurakot!’”