The House of Representatives terminated on Friday its plenary deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget for the Office of the Ombudsman and the Judiciary without interpellations or questions raised by House members.
The Office of the Ombudsman has a proposed 2027 budget of P7.23 billion, including automatic appropriations.
“As the Constitutional protector of the people, the Office of the Ombudsman stands as a vital vanguard against corruption, inefficiency, and high handedness in public service,” said Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the Office of the Ombudsman’s budget sponsor at the lower chamber.
“For fiscal year 2027, the proposed budget aims to fortify and strengthen the agency’s core mandate of strengthening its investigative, prosecutorial, and administrative capabilities.
Key priority areas include upgrading digital infrastructure to enhance case tracking and forensic investigation, building manpower capacity across regional offices, like the one in Mindanao, and expanding public assistance and corruption prevention initiatives,” he added.
Kabataan Party List Rep. Renee Co moved to terminate the plenary deliberations on the Ombudsman’s proposed 2027 budget, saying no member of the House minority wished to interpellate the budget sponsor.
The House majority joined the minority’s motion, which was approved, after no one objected.
The Judiciary’s proposed 2027 budget total P86.27 billion, inclusive of automatic appropriations. This figure is 22% higher than it’s budget this year.
“Significantly, the Supreme Court’s original budget proposal has been incorporated in the bill pursuant to the principle of judicial independence as stated in Republic Act 12233 or the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act… This demonstrates the importance of providing the judiciary with the resources necessary to independently perform its constitutional duty and mandate, and respond to the growing demands on our justice system,” Rodriguez said.
“As the third co-equal and independent branch of our government, the judiciary serves as fundamental pillar of justice, the guardian of our constitution, and also the ultimate refuge of our people in the protection of their basic rights. By supporting this budget… we empower our judiciary to operate with greater efficiency, transparency and integrity,” he added.
APEC Party List Rep. Sergio Dagooc moved for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on the Jusdiciary’s proposed 2027 budget saying “no single member form the minority” wished to interpellate. The House majority joined the minority’s motion, which was approved, after no one objected.