Remulla defends 2026 Ombudsman budget, vows faster case resolution

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

Remulla said his office is restructuring the entire process – from case filing to resolution – to ensure quicker and more efficient investigations. (Senate of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday defended before the Senate the proposed PHP6.39 billion budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2026, citing major reforms to speed up the handling of corruption and flood control-related cases.

During the budget hearing, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked the newly appointed Ombudsman about his plans to address issues in the ongoing investigations into flood control projects.

Remulla said his office is restructuring the entire process – from case filing to resolution – to ensure quicker and more efficient investigations.

“Ang opisina po ng Ombudsman ngayon ay binabago po namin ang sistema mula sa paghawak ng kaso mula filing hanggang madala sa Sandiganbayan o RTC (We are reforming the system of handling the cases – from filing until they reach the Sandiganbayan or Regional Trial Court),” he said.

He added that deadlines are being tightened.

“Kung dati ay umaabot ng anim na buwan hanggang isang taon ang preliminary investigation, ngayon po ay ginigiit ko na gawin na lamang naming 60 days. ‘Yun po ‘yung ginawa namin sa DOJ dati at tingin ko pwedeng gawin dito (If before it took six months to one year, I am now insisting on a 60-day period.

We did this at the DOJ and I believe it is possible here),” he said.

Remulla said he instructed investigators to skip redundant stages once documentary evidence is sufficient for filing, emphasizing the “sense of urgency” in anti-corruption work.

“The deadline is always yesterday,” he said. “We feel the weight of the anger of the Filipino people, and we’re looking to the Office to solve this crisis of gigantic proportions.”

Gatchalian, meanwhile, pressed for tangible results within a shorter timeframe.

“Your predecessor mentioned it takes two to three years to file a case. Pag two to three years wala na tayong pasensya niyan… lalo with this flood control (If it takes two to three years, our patience will run out… especially with this flood control issue),” he said.

“Base sa mga sinabi niyo, aabot pa ba tayo ng two to three years to see something significant (Based on what you said, will it still take us two to three years to see significant results)?”

Remulla replied, “Hindi na po tayo aabot sa ganon kahaba (We will not take that long anymore).”

Under the National Expenditure Program, the Ombudsman’s proposed 2026 budget totals PHP6.39 billion, up PHP518 million or 8.83 percent from its 2025 allocation of PHP5.87 billion.

The increase covers such programs as General Administration and Support with PHP4.37 billion (up 6.79 percent), the Anti-Corruption Investigation Program with PHP899.76 million (up 10.66 percent), the Ombudsman Public Assistance Program with PHP151.97 million (up 66.76 percent), and Support to Operations with PHP112.82 million (up 72.37 percent).