Ombudsman Samuel Martires (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON)
MANILA, Philippines— Ombudsman Samuel Martires has asked lawmakers to just give his office a P1 million confidential fund next year or until the end of his term in 2025.
The request was made through a letter dated October 6, 2023 addressed to Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“Consistent with my earlier pronouncement before your Committee, I would like to officially request that notwithstanding its investigative functions, that the Office of the Ombudsman be appropriated the amount of ONE MILLION PESOS (P 1,000,000.00) for its Confidential and Intelligence Fund (CIF) in FYs 2024 and 2025 or until the end of my term of office as Ombudsman,” Martires said in the letter.
The Ombudsman has repeatedly told the Senate and the House that his office is ready to forego the confidential fund, saying it can survive without it.
This request by the Ombudsman was granted by the House of Representatives.
From the proposed P51.5 million, the Ombudsman’s confidential fund was reduced to just P1 million next year, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo said in a Viber message to reporters.
Quimbo is senior vice chairperson of the House appropriations panel.
“(T)he remainder of the proposed budget it originally sought has been realigned for its Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses or MOOE,” she said.
Angara, in an interview in the Senate on Wednesday, confirmed receiving a letter from Martires.
“Ok na daw sila na P1 million,” he said.
Angara said he found the gesture of the Ombudsman “commendable.”