Ombudsman seeks zero secret funds for next year

Ombudsman Samuel Martires. —Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — For the second year in a row, Ombudsman Samuel Martires has asked the powerful House committee on appropriations to remove the antigraft agency’s confidential funds for 2025 to avoid raising doubts about how they will be spent.

READ: Powers of the Ombudsman

During the budget deliberation for the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday night, Martires said he would “appreciate really if Congress will remove the confidential fund from our budget … as I’d rather not have a confidential fund until the end of my term of office.”

Instead, he sought more funding to put up more Ombudsman satellite offices, hire more lawyers, and support his office’s digitalization program. His proposals were later approved by the House panel. —Krixia Subingsubing