MANILA – Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday said proposed legislation to strengthen the Office of the Ombudsman will be included among the partial recommendations of the Senate panel following its investigation into the flood control scandal.

Lacson said the measures aim to address capacity issues within the Ombudsman’s office, including deputizing private lawyers as prosecutors and establishing a small, dedicated law enforcement arm to follow up on corruption-related cases.

“One recommendation is based on the suggestion of former Senate President Franklin Drilon to allow the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers to help in prosecuting cases, because the Office of the Ombudsman is very undermanned. If we allow it to deputize private lawyers to act as prosecutors by way of legislation, that would be a good measure,” he said in an interview on DZMM radio.

He added: “The Office of the Ombudsman should have its own law enforcement arm. Even if it is small, it should be dedicated, to allow it to apply for search warrants and conduct follow-up investigations of corruption-related cases.”

Lacson said the partial recommendations are part of the Blue Ribbon panel’s mandate to conduct hearings in aid of legislation, noting that evidence from its hearings has already been used by the Department of Justice, the Ombudsman, and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure in filing cases before the courts.

He said the committee is almost finished with its partial report and may hold one to two more hearings before completing its investigation. He expressed confidence that the final report will be evidence-based and solid.

Lacson also said subpoenas issued by the DOJ against personalities such as former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Senator Jinggoy Estrada will not affect the committee’s work.

“What is more important to our committee report is the aspect of the probe in aid of legislation. The recommended pieces of legislation aim to correct our current system as part of our oversight mandate, to correct weaknesses in our current laws and strengthen our fight against corruption,” he said.

On the whereabouts of ex-Representative Elizaldy Co, Lacson said it is up to the Executive Department to follow up on reports that Co was in Stockholm, Sweden as of January 15. He cautioned that such information does not necessarily indicate Co’s current location.

“A document indicating he was in Sweden does not automatically mean he is staying there. He could be on the move. It could even be meant to confuse those following him,” he said.