The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is set to recommend legislative measures to bolster the powers of the Office of the Ombudsman, following its investigation into the flood control scandal, according to a report by RH Raymund Dadpaas.
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that proposals to strengthen the Ombudsman will be included in the partial recommendations of the Senate panel. These are contained in the committee’s partial report on its investigation into flood control projects.
Lacson said it is only right to further strengthen the Office of the Ombudsman so it can more effectively fight corruption.
Among the proposed reforms is granting the Ombudsman the authority to deputize private lawyers as prosecutors, addressing the office’s current shortage of personnel.
Another recommendation is the creation of its own enforcement unit, capable of executing search warrants and conducting follow-up investigations in graft and corruption cases.
“Isa ang mungkahi ni former Senate President (at Justice Secretary) Franklin Drilon na payagan ang Ombudsman mag-deputize ng private prosecutors para tumulong sa pag-prosecute ng kaso. Kasi sa ngayon undermanned ang Office of the Ombudsman at nagha-hire pa sila ng lawyers. Pero kung bibigyan sila by way of legislation na pwede silang mag-deputize ng private lawyers para umakto bilang private prosecutors, magandang mungkahi 'yan,” Lacson explained in a radio interview.
Currently, the Ombudsman relies on assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for enforcement.
Lacson emphasized that having a dedicated law enforcement unit, even a small one, would allow the Ombudsman to independently execute search warrants and carry out follow-up investigations in corruption cases.
Once the partial committee report is presented to the Senate plenary, Lacson said the panel may hold two more hearings related to the flood control anomaly.
He also highlighted that evidence gathered by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee during its hearings has been used by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) in court proceedings.
Lacson expressed "confidence" that the committee report will be solid, noting that it is grounded in "evidence."
