MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman is seeking an additional P148.532 million in confidential funds for 2027, more than double the amount recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Ombudsman Director for Finance and Management Service Christopher Lim made the request during a budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations.

The DBM has recommended P51.468 million in confidential expenses under the Ombudsman’s maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE). Lim said the office is seeking an additional P148.532 million on top of the recommended allocation.

“The recommended maintenance and other operating expenses amounting to P2.446 billion include a provision for P51.468 million for confidential expenses in support of the Office of the Ombudsman’s constitutionality mandated functions of investigation, prosecution, and graft prevention,” Lim said.

The DBM has proposed a total budget of P7.232 billion for the Office of the Ombudsman in 2027, including automatic appropriations. The amount represents about 0.1% of the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for the year.

Lim said the additional confidential funds would support the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate, particularly its investigation, prosecution and graft-prevention functions.

He also assured lawmakers that the agency would ensure the funds are used properly.

“The Office of the Ombudsman, in return, commits that the budgetary support it needs will not be spent aimlessly but will be utilized with the usual zeal 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 deserves no less,” Lim said.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno backed the Ombudsman’s request, saying the agency may have greater need for confidential funds than other government offices currently under scrutiny in the impeachment proceedings.

“Sa palagay ko, kayo yung nangangailangan ng mas malalaking confidential funds kaysa sa ibang ahensya na tinututukan natin sa kaso ng impeachment,” Diokno said.

House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Mikaela Suansing, meanwhile, said lawmakers would consider the request and asked the Ombudsman to formally submit it in writing.

“May I request it in writing because we would have to submit for the deliberation of the budget amendments review sub-committee […] Given the important mandate of the Ombudsman, we wanted to make sure that we give you the resources to be able to perform the important work you are doing,” Suansing said.