By Liza Soriano
THE Senate Committee on Finance has passed the proposed budget of the Office of the Ombudsman, amounting to P5.050 billion for 2024.
The proposed budget includes P51 million in confidential funds.
Senator Sonny Angara, the panel’s chairman, moved to halt their deliberations on the Ombudsman’s expenditure plan for next year, but stated that the decision is “without prejudice to any possible augmentation.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Kiko Pimentel was surprised after knowing that the Office of the Ombudsman has a confidential fund.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires said that he is willing that the confidential fund be scrapped if it will taint the reputation of the office and of the Ombudsman itself and the officers.
Pimentel then commended Martires for his remark, saying it is a “symbolic act.”
Martires then was curious about confidential funds on the reason why it is an issue.
“It’s because dumami na ang nagre-request at lumalaki nang sobra ang halaga,” the senator said.
“Those are the two reasons, at idagdag na natin ang pangatlo: Mahirap ang buhay ng tao ngayon that’s why sensitive sila sa money and use of money,” Pimentel explained. (ai/mnm)
