Office of the Ombudsman

briefing on the fiscal year 2027 proposed expenditure program of the office of the

Ombudsman is hereby called to order. The Chair would like to acknowledge the presence of senators

our Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Vicente Tito Sotto, and of course Senator

Panfilo Lacson. At this juncture, the Chair recognizes the committee secretary

to acknowledge our esteemed resource persons

thank you mr chair good morning good morning

to senator soto and laxon for the briefing on the proposed fy 2027 budget of the office of

the ombudsman we would like to acknowledge our resource persons we have the ombudsman

ombudsman jesus crispine remolia deputy ombudsman jose embalmeo jr special prosecutor marie floor

punzalan castillo assistant ombudsman adoration agdaba agbada sorry assistant ombudsman jose

dominic clavano the fourth assistant ombudsman luis gonzaga bonoan jr

assistant ombudsman margaret raiza andaman assistant ombudsman aliceo dc cruz attorney

alan canares and director christopher liam we have also invited resource persons from the dbm and koa

from dbm we have miss merica joana de la pena miss maria amor atutubo and mr ethan mccray morales

from koa we have miss maria carmela marcos and attorney maria kathleen vila thank you mr chair

thank you

magandang maga po sa lahat sa ating lahat our goal for the 2027 budget is clear to address the basic needs of our people restore the trust in the budget process and ultimately restore trust in government

at sa layuning ito layuning ito mahalagang katuwang natin ang office of the ombudsman ang ating pong tanod bayan

lalo na ngayon sa gitna ng aligasyon ng anomalya sa flood control project sa ombudsman umaasa

ang publiko para sa mabilis patas at independent

na imbisigasyon at pananagutan

kung seryoso tayo sa paglaban sa korasyon dapat well equipped din

ang ombudsman

kailangan nito magkaroon ng sapat na budget

manpower, kagamitan at teknolohiya upang magampanan ng maayos

ang mandato nito bilang pangunahing bantay ng mamamayan

laban sa katiwalian at pang-aabuso sa pamalan

as we scrutinize the proposed 2027 budget of the office of the ombudsman

hindi lamang ang halaga ng budget ang gusto nating tignan

kundi kung ano ang magagawa nito

paano nito mapapabilis ang imbisigasyon at pagre-resolba ng mga kaso

paano nito mapapalakas ang monitoring and enforcement

at sapat ba ang inyong resources upang mapanagot ang maabuso sa kapangyarihan at kaban ng bayan

we want to ensure that the ombudsman has the resources it needs to do his job effectively

while making sure that every peso translates

into stronger accountability

faster action and greater public trust

maraming salamat po

before acknowledging our guests

may we ask also our esteemed colleagues to wish their opening remarks

our President Pro Tempore, Senator Vicente Tito Soto

good morning to everyone

there are a number of questions that I would like to pose

but I'm sure they'll be answered when they give us the proposal

for their budget

I'm more interested in finding out

whatever happened to the proposal that we create

that they create a judicial marshal bureau

so I'd like to know later on

how much budget is needed

and what is the bill or law that is necessary

or an amendment to the law of the ombudsman later

that's about it

otherwise I'm here to listen Mr. Chairman

thank you our Senate President Pro Tempore

Next is Senator Panfilo Lacson.

nothing from this representation your honor

okay thank you

for our esteemed colleagues

may we now call our ombudsman

Jesus Crispin Boying Remulla

to deliver his opening statement

and likewise to present the 2027

proposed expenditure program

of the office of the ombudsman

thank you Mr. Chairman

thank you members of the committee

for the time given to us

to be able to shed light on the budget

that we may need

or that we need to have

for the next fiscal year

and this job is tough

it's not easy

to be able to gather the facts

gather the evidence

and file the cases

but we go to work every day

and we get things done every day

but it's a slow process

it's a process that entails

a lot of patience

and I hope that

sana ay maunawaan po ng mga mamamayan

na

kinakailangan pong masinop ang aming trabaho

sapagkat ito po ay dadaan pa

sa ating sistema ng korte,

sa sistema ng hustisya natin.

Ito po ay dadaan pa

ang aming ginagawa

sa ating mga huwes

ng Regional Trial Court

at sa mga huwes natin,

sa mga justice natin

sa Sandiganbayan.

Kaya ito ang aming pinag-iingatan,

at sa araw-araw

na kami po ay pumapasok sa opisina,

sinisikap po

naming

pagtibayin ang aming

mga nakikita

na dapat pong ayusin

sa ating sistema ng hustisya

at dito po sa ating mga kasama sa gobyerno.

At upang magbigay po ng liwanag

sa budget namin,

andito po si Director Christopher Lim

upang ibigay po yung mga detalye

ng aming presentasyon.

Salamat po.

Director Christopher Lim

is recognized

Good morning Mr. Chair

May I have

the honor to present to you

the budget proposal

Please proceed

of the Office of the Ombudsman

Okay

So the Office of the Ombudsman

shall strive to continue

the faithful performance

of its constitutional mandate

especially as it relates

to the fight against corruption

through the following measures

finding and or case build-up

prosecution

administrative adjudication

grab prevention

and auxiliary public assistance services

So the recommended budget

level by the Department of Budget and Management

for the Office of the Ombudsman for 2027

is 7.232 billion

including automatic appropriations

This is in conformity

with the pronouncement of the Constitution

and its enabling law

RA number 6770

on fiscal autonomy

that appropriations of the Office of the Ombudsman

may not be reduced below the amount appropriated

from the previous years

It represents 0.1% of the budget level

of the national expenditure program

of 7.2 trillion

So going on to the details

the details of the recommendation

with comparative figures

for 2026 current budget

and 2027 DBM-NEP

are summarized on the screen

So for personnel services

the amount is 3,760,765,000

representing 52%

for maintenance and other operating expenses

2,444,135,000

representing 33.79%

and capital outlay

857,100,000

representing 11.85%

RLIP of 168,332,000

representing 2.33%

and OMB share in Military Council Fund

of 2,602,000

representing 0.04%

for a total of 100%

Comparative data for 2026 budget

and 2027 DBM-NEP per program

including RLIP in 1,000 pesos

So for general administration and support

4,905,983,000

representing 67.83%

For support to operations

147,000,000

representing 2.04%

For Anti-Corruption Investigation Program

945,737,000 pesos

representing 13.08%

For Anti-Corruption Enforcement Program

721,168,000 pesos

representing 9.97%

For Ombudsman Public Assistance Program

290,934,000 pesos

representing 4.02%

For Corruption Prevention Program

211,758,000 pesos

representing 2.93%

And for locally funded projects

which is the Whistleblower Account Reward

10,000,000 pesos

representing 0.14%

So going now to the salient features

The requirement for the filling of positions

in the amount of 1.662 billion

allocation for pension benefits in the amount of 169.381 million pesos

Provisions for Terminal and Retirement Gratuity Benefits

for mandatory 78,869,000 pesos

and for optional 310,758,000 pesos

for a total recommendation of 389,627,000 pesos

The recommended minimum rate for the filling of positions

with maintenance and other operating expenses

amounting to 2,446,000,000

includes a provision of 51.468 million pesos

for confidential expenses in support of the office

of the ombudsman's constitutionally mandated functions of investigation prosecution and

graft prevention. Additional provision of 2,602,000 pesos for

training to be charged against the office of the ombudsman share from the military council's

proceeds fund allocation for the agency's information communications technology requirements

moa component of which is 247 million and capital outlay component of which is 250.519 million for

a total of 497 million 549 000 pesos this is to support the i.t system infrastructure modern

modernization initiatives the construction of a document storage building for omb besides

is provided an amount of 11

55 million in view of the agency's critical mandate to investigate and prosecute cases

involving graph and corruption which requires the secure preservation systematic organization and

timely retrieval of large volumes of case records evidence files and administrative documents

an amount of 95.031 million has been retained for the continued upgrade of depreciated office

equipment foreign

and pictures an amount of 500 million as funding support for the purchase of omb building under

and under lease purchase agreement was likewise recommended

going now on the performance of the office for the 2025 and 2026 for its anti-corruption

investigation program uh with percentage of completed case built up reports and

fact-finding investigations and or lifestyle checks resulting in the piling of criminal and or

administrative cases the target in 2025 was 10 percent the actual 28.08 percent for 2026 the target

was 11 percent the accomplishment as of june was recorded at 41.9 percent for percentage of uh

case buildup reports and finding investigation and or lifestyle checks completed

the target was 21 percent with the actual accomplishment of 55.05 percent

for 2026 the target was 22 percent and the accomplishments of june was recorded at 14.33

percentage of criminal and for picture cases investigated and resolved the target was 41

the accomplishment was 46.31 percent for 2026 the target was 41 percent and the

accomplishment as of June 30 2026 was recorded at 21.07 percent percentage of criminal and for

future cases investigated and resolved within one year period the target was 26 percent the

actual accomplishment was recorded 46.16 percent and for 2026 target the target was 34 percent

with the related accomplishment of 57.88 percent as of June 30 2026 for its anti-corruption

enforcement program the percentage of criminal and civil cases tried in court not resulting in

an approved demurrer to evidence for 2025 the target was 21 percent the actual was 73.18

percent for 2026 25 percent and the accomplishment as of June 30 2026 was recorded at 18.4

percent percentage of criminal and civil cases decided by the court resulting in conviction of

at least one accused the target was 28 percent the actual was uh 50.60 percent and the target

for 2026 was 28 percent with the related accomplishments of June of 65.03 percent

percentage of administrative cases adjudicated target of 41 percent and accomplishment of

four

46.12 percent for 2026 the target was 41 percent and the accomplishment as of June 30 was recorded

at 19.18 percent percentage of administrative cases adjudicated within a one-year period the

target was 27 percent uh the rated accomplishment for 2025 was 49.13 percent and the target for 2026

was recorded 34 and the related accomplishments of June of 69.59

percent for ombudsman public assistance program percentage of frontline service feedback with the

rating of at least very satisfactory the target was 81 percent and the actual was 98.62 percent for

2026 82 percent and the accomplishment as of June 30 98.37 percent percentage of requests for

assistance and grievances resolved or acted upon within the prescribed time

the target was 78 percent uh the actual was 94.25 percent the target for 2026 was 80 percent and the

accomplishment as of June 30 was recorded at 92.53 percent for corruption prevention program

percentage of integrity promotion program beneficiaries the target was 81 percent the

actual accomplishment was 97.65 percent for 2026 85 percent

the accomplishment as of June was already recorded at 98.39 percent uh for number of integrity and

anti-corruption advocates capacitated and mobilized this is an old indicator

6000 target the actual accomplishment was 14.096 the percentage of integrity and anti-corruption

advocates trained a new indicator the target for 2026 was 85 percent with

an accomplishment as of June 30 of 352.29 percent for our utilization rate on major programs projects

as of first semester the obligation utilization rate was recorded at 45.14 percent the disbursement

utilization rate upon the other hand it was recorded at 96.44 percent

so comparative budget allocation and utilization rate for fiscal years 2021 to 2025. so for

2021 the obligation utilization rate was 85 89.5 percent for 2022 90.19 percent

for 2023 90.31 percent for 2024 94.8 percent for 2025 94.31 percent or an average of

For its disbursement utilization rate, for 2021, 96.94%, for 2022, 97.49%, for 2023, 98%, for 2024, 95.98%, for 2025, 92.54, for an average of 96.19%.

For the summary of COA findings and recommendation, we have 22 total, 16 of which were implemented, 6 were partially implemented, and 0 not yet implemented.

So, for 2025, the COA rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of presentation of the financial statements of the OMB.

So, going on the other relevant information to have the committee in the deliberations.

Of the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget.

So, the requested additional funding, purchase of new building, part of five-year installment acquisition amounting to 7.3 billion.

Funding requirements for the creation of the Ombudsman Marshal and additional positions to augment the general administration and support units.

Additional confidential funds.

And motor vehicles for officials and general dispatch for a total of 1.8 billion, 36 million, 351,000 pesos.

So, we also would like to request the restatement of special provision already included in the 2026 GAA with some minor modification.

So, on the use of savings, the Ombudsman is authorized to use savings from appropriations of the Office of the Ombudsman.

To augment.

Appled deficiencies in any item of its appropriations for the current year, which may include the following purposes.

Printing and or publication of decisions, resolutions, and training information materials.

Repair, maintenance, and improvement of central and regional offices, facilities, and equipment.

Purchase of equipment, books, journals, and periodicals.

Necessary expenses for the employment of temporary, contractual, and casual employees.

Payment of extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses, representation, and transportation allowances, and other authorized benefits of its officials and employees.

And other capital expenditures and any other legal or official purpose as determined by him to strengthen the office and enhance its operations and services, as well as for any other expenditure or purpose authorized by law.

Subject to pertinent budgeting.

And auditing rules and regulation.

Use of income.

The Office of the Ombudsman may use the income it generates from peace and other authorized collections subject to the pertinent sections in the general provisions of this act for purposes as may be specifically authorized during or by applicable provisions of law.

Release of payment of retirement benefits and pensions.

Appropriations.

Authorized for payment of retirement benefits and pensions of the Ombudsman and his or her deputies, the Special Prosecutor and all qualified officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman with salary grade 26 to 29 under Section 2 of RA-110-59 shall be released directly to the Office of the Ombudsman subject to the computation and conditions prescribed in applicable retirement laws, rules, and regulations.

Retirement of the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, or the Special Prosecutor.

Service for a full term for purposes of the retirement of the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, or the Special Prosecutor under RA-110-59 may be satisfied if the concerned official has rendered a continuous service in the Office of the Ombudsman of at least two years as Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, or Special Prosecutor.

and has rendered a cumulative service with the government of a total of seven years,

including the two years rendered continuously as Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, or Special Prosecutor.

In any event, an Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, or Special Prosecutor who has rendered at least seven years in the government,

with the last two years of that service having been rendered continuously

in the Office of the Ombudsman

as Ombudsman,

Deputy Ombudsman

or Special Prosecutor shall likewise be entitled to retire and receive during the residue

of his or her natural life the same benefits provided for under RA-1-1059. An official or

employee claiming retirement benefits under RA-1-1059 may only do so once. So these provisions

concerning the use of savings, use of income, release of payment of retirement benefits and

pension, and retirement of the ombudsman, deputy ombudsman, or the special prosecutor

are indispensable safeguards that uphold the office's constitutionally guaranteed independence

and fiscal autonomy. It is earnestly hoped that the foregoing provisions will be included in the

General Appropriations Bill that will be passed by the Senate of the Philippines.

In closing,

it cannot be denied that the Philippines struggles every day with the problem of

poverty and corruption. Indeed, there is a positive association between corruption and

poverty. Corruption affects all of us and dangers our national life, makes the poor poorer. Reduced

incidences of corruption increases government savings that can in turn be used for poverty

alleviation projects of this administration. Thus, the Office of Ombudsman earnestly hopes

that the Senate of the Philippines, in considering the budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for

2027 and that of the succeeding years, would realize the crucial role it performs in the

investigation or case build-up and enforcement of administrative, civil, and criminal liability

to promote efficient service by the government to the people through its proactive approaches.

The Office of the Ombudsman, in return, commits that the budgetary support it needs will be

not be spent aimlessly but will be utilized with a useful seal and dedication to enhance the confidence of the general public in the OMB as their watchdog, mobilizer, official critic, and dispenser of justice because the Filipino people deserves no less.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you.

At this point, we would like to open the floor to our colleagues to ask their questions.

As our Senate President Pro Tempore is here, Senator Lacson also in order of arrival.

Senator Lacson was ahead, but of course, we'll...

Our Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Tito Sotafo.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Senator Lacson.

And, of course, again, good morning to everyone.

Most of the questions that I would like to pose were answered by the proposal, as I expected by the presentation, except for one item.

But then again, I would like to thank you for including the finding requirements for the Ombudsman Marshal already.

And then perhaps we can discuss later with Senator Lacson and Senator JV the law that will provide for this.

But as far as the budget is concerned, the Chairman, I'm sure, would be able to come up with this.

And I'm glad you have already proposed it here.

Now, there's only one hanging question for me here on the budget.

As a matter of fact, I'm tempted to ask the Chairman to approve your budget already.

But just one hanging question.

Your plantilla positions, why is it that only 49% are being filled?

And does this include regional offices, please, Mr. Ombudsman?

So, we're hiring people now, Mr. Chairman.

The process of hiring people is not very easy, Mr. Chairman.

That's one thing that we can tell you.

Because we...

There is a screening, a very rigorous screening for those who apply for the office.

This year, we hired 60 lawyers.

60 lawyers.

And we expect to hire 40 more by November.

But the application process, they were only told that they were hired this August.

But they applied as early as January and February.

So, it takes seven months or eight months to actually create, to really fill in an item.

Mr. Chairman.

And, of course, we have space constraints also, Mr. Chairman.

Our office is very small.

Physically, our office buildings cannot actually carry a very good setup for lawyers to work in.

That's why we are asking for a new building.

We are actually purchasing a new building, Mr. Chairman.

And...

So,

So, it's a...

With our plantilla positions, we actually are...

We have more than 2,000 positions in our plantilla.

But so far, we only have 1,300 plus people within the office of the ombudsman.

And we are filling it up as we speak.

And actually, we don't have a problem with the applicants.

We have a sufficient number of applicants.

For the...

100 lawyers we're hiring this year, including the 60 we already hired, there were 3,700 applicants.

It's a very, very good position for lawyers to aspire for.

And we have great...

The quality of the applicants is actually very, very impressive.

The credentials are very impressive.

But the process actually takes a long time for government to hire people based on the

plantilla and all the other rules that come with it, especially, of course, the personnel

selection board within the office will also give priority to those who are already within

so that we can promote them.

So, it really takes a little more time, Mr. Chairman.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

At least, we know that the budget for that is available, and you are trying to fill it

up very soon.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

You have a department or a bureau that investigates your own, right?

Yes.

We have the Internal Affairs Bureau.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm very supportive of the budget of the ombudsman.

Thank you.

Next to us, Senator Panfilo Ping-Lakson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First to address the concern raised by the Senate President Pro Temp.

I actually filed Senate Bill No. 2394.

What I just filed is for the Ombudsman's Marshal Service.

This is to amend Section 15 of the Ombudsman Law.

Ang tawag natin doon sa kanilang law enforcement service is Ombudsman Marshal Service.

I already mentioned there's a request for PS in the amount of 163.68 million Pesos and

and another 3.799 million para sa MOOE.

This is for 2027.

And

the chairman

has already whispered to me that approve na raw yung inyong request. Bahala na kami maghanap kung saan kukuha ng pangre-realign. Actually,

for information also in 2021 when the judicial marshal of the judiciary

under the supreme court was not yet passed i already realigned or augmented their budget

by 50 million and so doing at least item we can easily realign or augment no from the special

purpose fund allowed namanian of course uh in the pala under the office of the president because he

constitutional body kayo so you can align your budget to augment at least as long as there is

an item in the budget and the ombudsman ombudsman boying knows this very well having come from the

house of representatives now my my question is moving on of the 12.796 billion uh originally

proposed by the Ombudsman, ang ni-recommend lang ng DBM na nakasama sa NEP ay 7.3 billion, with a massive cut ito, 43.5 [unclear].

now my question is what specific paps will be sacrificed because of the cuts

And sundan ko na lang ng follow-up question. In their order of priorities, what PAPs do you think ang masasacrifice na

magha-hamper ng inyong investigative

function sa anti-corruption drive

kung hindi mare-restore?

Paki-prioritize na lang.

Good morning, Mr. Chairman. So from the 12.7 billion that we

requested, sir, ang deficiency

ay 5.5B

and these are cut across

general administration in support

4.1B

support to operations 500

million, anti-corruption

investigation program 300 million

Excuse me, ang tanong ko lang

pakiprioritize kung ano yung

sa tingin ninyo kailang

ma-restore in their

order of priorities. Of course

we have the records nung sinasabi ninyo

kung ano yung mga cuts

but I want to find out

we want to find out ano yung

parang indispensable

na ma-restore natin para

for our guidance

especially that the chairman is here

pwede nating magawa ng paraan

na i-restore. But we need to prioritize

That's just Mr. Lackson, in order of

priority, talagang sinasabi

ni Mr. Lackson, yun talagang

what is really needed na talagang

that you would want us to restore

Mr. Chairman

purchase of a new office building

is very important

to us so that we can give

good working conditions

for our lawyers and for our personnel

That's

1.465 billion

Funding requirements

for the creation of the Ombudsman Marshall

of course is a priority

and that will

be more than

167 million

Additional confidential funds of

148 million

and

motor vehicles for

officials and general dispatch

Your Honor

Those are the priority items

that's amounting to 1.8 billion

Thank you, Ombudsman

Bahala na si chairman dyan

Anyway, understandably so

kasi if we compare

yung benchmark ng ICAC

yung Hong Kong

Independent Commission Against Corruption

yung kanilang percentage sa kanilang

total budget

0.38%

yan ang ina-allocate ng government ng Hong Kong

ng SAR

doon sa kanilang Independent Commission Against Corruption

compare that to the

Ombudsman

yung counterpart

nandun lang tayo sa 0.1%

kasi kung susunod na natin yung benchmark

ng ICAC

dapat 25.8 billion

at least yung inyong budget

so napakalayo doon sa

naiwanan na 7

7.2

3 billion

but then

these are issues that may be raised

sa plenary

ng aming mga colleagues

anyway, si chairman naman

ang mag-de-defend nito sa plenary

because we

see some

lump sum appropriations

for personal services

ang total nito

1.68 billion pesos

this is to provide

a

as mentioned

to fill up

1,247

vacant positions

51.1

ang vacancy rate

ng Ombudsman

my question is

how confident are you

na pwede nyo ma-fill up

kasi this will be an issue

that will be raised

during the plenary

deliberation

so we must be able

or at least si chairman

must be able to address that

kasi medyo malaki yung

51.1%

na vacancy rate

and that would translate

to how many personnel

sir

your honor

if we are given the chance

to really

hire these people

now

I think that within

another year

we would have hired

more than 400 people

so it will take around 3 years

to actually fill this gap

if

if

if

if

if we really

are able to

to hire them

with the budget

your honor

in other words

it will

even

surpass the

two-year period

for

authorizing the

continuing appropriations

kaya kung

ibibigay lahat itong

1.68 billion

hindi rin ito ma-obligate

hindi mayu-utilize

because

it would take

three years

to hire the

the

the vacancies

the vacant positions

yes sir

yes your honor

it's the absorptive capacity

of the office

yes

hindi usat tayo sanay

sa malaking

puwersa

so we have to

break it in your honor

we have to actually

so it would be more practical

na yung part of the

1.68 billion

pwede nating realign

papunta sa

judicial marshal

sa

marshal

do sa

ombudsman

marshal

it can be done

yes sir

para yung

yung ma-absorb lang

for the

two-year period

para hindi na tayo

kukuha doon

sa ibang agencies

at least yung

ibang needs ninyo

sa mga priorities ninyo

yun na lang ang po

problemahin namin

kunin sa ibang agencies

since

1.68 billion

itong

hindi naman

kayang i-obligate

in the

in the

next two years

probably

pwede tayong

humiwa ng konti rito

para ma-augment

yung ibang priorities

it can be done sir

thank you

um

yun na lang muna

mister chairman

and

ako

I'm fully supportive

of the

of recommending

to the plenary

yung budget

ng

ng ombudsman

thank you

mister chairman

thank you

um

senator lakson

doon na lang

sa request

for additional funding

no

so that we'll be able

to justify this

on the floor

siguro just

general

in terms of staffing

how many positions

will the ombudsman

marshal service have

anybody can answer

how do you justify

creating a new enforcement

service when

the office of the ombudsman

has 50% vacancy rate

eto yung

natanong no

para lang malaman natin

when

this

most likely

this will be asked

on the floor

siguro anybody can answer

assistant ombudsman

bunuan

yes sir

mister chair

our request sir

is for additional

100 positions

for the office of the

ombudsman marshal

across

um

the country sir

so this covers

our sectoral offices

in luzon

visayas

and mindanao

and

as to answer

your question sir

um

since we are also

in the process

of filling up

these positions

we were hoping

to get a separate

office

of the ombudsman

marshal

to complement

these sir

If funding is approved,

what is the

realistic timeline

to recruit

vet and train

these marshals

so that these funds

won't end up

as unspent

appropriations

at the end of the year

Ano yung

actual timeline natin?

mr chairman

if i may interject

may i ask the

ombudsman

do you already have

somebody in mind

to head the

judicial

marshal service

your honor

we already have

an assistant ombudsman

now

yeah

who can