Philippines’ Manila For the next two years, the Office of the Ombudsman asked to have less money allocated to confidential projects.
This request was presented to Congress by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who is now examining the proposed national budget for 2024.
In a letter dated October 6, Martires wrote to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sonny Angara, “Consistent with my earlier pronouncement on the matter, 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 (P1,000,000.00) for its Confidential and Intelligence Fund (CIF) in FYs 2024 and 2025 or until my term as Ombudsman ends.”
Martires, who holds the position until 2025, corresponded with Rep. Zaldy Co., the head of the House Appropriations Committee, in a similar manner.
Recall that Martires asked to set aside the P51.5 million in confidential monies allocated by the Department of Budget and Management during the hearings for the anti-graft agency’s budget.
In order to “protect the integrity of the Ombudsman and its office,” he turned down the “controversial” confidential money.
“I believe we can make it without sensitive funding,” Martires stated back in September.
The Office of the Vice President’s and four other federal departments’ classified funds were eliminated by the House Committee on Appropriations on October 10.
Instead, P50 million would be given to the Office of the Ombudsman to cover maintenance and other operating costs.
