MANILA— The Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights held a hearing on a proposal to strengthen the Office of the Ombudsman by creating its own law enforcement unit, with committee chair Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan saying the measure could bolster the agency’s ability to enforce its legal orders and pursue corruption cases.

Senate Bill No. 2394, filed by Senator Panfilo Lacson on Aug. 12, seeks to establish an Ombudsman Marshall Service with authority to make arrests and detentions, conduct searches and seizures, and undertake various investigative activities.

Pangilinan cited the multibillion-peso flood control scam as an example of the need to strengthen the Ombudsman’s enforcement capabilities.

“Kaya kailangang bigyan ang Office of the Ombudsman ng sapat na kakayahan at kapangyarihan para maipatupad ang mga ligal nitong utos, masiguro ang mga ebidensiya, at maprotektahan ang mga saksi — lahat para matiyak na hindi makakaiwas sa pananagutan ang mga may poder na lumalabag sa batas,” he said.

“Justice delayed or selectively enforced deepens public cynicism and weakens democracy,” Pangilinan added.

The senator also pointed to the length of time it took for the Sandiganbayan to convict officials involved in the 2004 fertilizer fund scam, saying the 21-year wait underscored problems in pursuing corruption cases.

“All the lawyers here and law enforcement personalities here, I think you all would agree with me. You know, convicting someone after 21 years all criminal — all corruption cases, is not the way to go. And ba’t tayo magtataka ba’t kung walang pigil and massive corruption, kung ganon ang record?,” he said.

Pangilinan also cited a Commission on Audit report stating that P1.3 trillion is lost to corruption annually.

“Kung hindi natin aayusin ito, at hindi natin gagawan ng interventions, e kumuha na lang tayo ng bato at pukpok natin sa ulo natin, kasi ganoon din naman ang magiging resulta,” he said.

“And so we need your help, and we would like to provide also the support necessary for the Ombudsman to be able to do its job. And I believe if the Ombudsman was more successful in the past, then these massive flood control scandals would not have happened, and that’s why we want to strengthen your mandate to be able to address this,” he added.

Under Lacson’s proposal, the Ombudsman Marshall Service would amend Section 15 of Republic Act No. 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

The service would be headed by a special investigator with the rank of deputy ombudsman and staffed by peace officers known as ombudsman marshals.

The proposed marshals would have the authority to make arrests and conduct searches and seizures. They would also be allowed to carry firearms for personal protection, as well as for the protection of witnesses and persons in custody, without securing a special permit from another government agency.

Pangilinan said the Senate Committee on Finance had backed the Ombudsman’s request for an additional P168 million under the proposed 2027 national budget to establish the Marshall Service.

He said holding public officials accountable when warranted by evidence is necessary to protect democracy and uphold equality, justice and accountability.

“Kung paano tayo naghahanda para sa Super El Niño, dapat din nating tiyakin na matatapos ang Super Impunity,” Pangilinan said. “Umaalingawngaw pa rin ang sigaw ng bayan na: ‘Ikulong na ‘yan, mga kurakot!’”