Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Rep. Leila M. de Lima on Tuesday called on the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and President Marcos Jr. to expedite the selection of the next Ombudsman in light of the ongoing investigations into anomalous government projects.
In a statement, De Lima said the state watchdog post must not be left vacant for too long ‘so that cases can continue to progress, those who should be held accountable can be held accountable, and the people can achieve justice.’
Her statement comes after the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI)’s recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman to file criminal and administrative charges against former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co and 17 others over an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
The project was implemented by Sunwest Inc., a company Co founded.
The Ombudsman is also expected to play a greater role in the broader anti-corruption crackdown ordered by President Marcos Jr.
However, as of Sept. 30, Mr. Marcos has yet to appoint an Ombudsman, which has remained pending since former Ombudsman Samuel Martires retired on July 27, 2025.
As of last week, the JBC said it would hold its deliberations on the vacancy ‘in the coming weeks’ instead of last Sept. 19 to give Sen. Francis Pangilinan, the new chair of the Senate committee on justice, time to review the applications.
The current acting ombudsman is Dante Vargas, who so far has ordered the suspension of 16 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials over their alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.
Still, ‘given the extent of the collusion and the number of legislators and government officials involved in the anomalous flood control projects, there is a need for a regular Ombudsman who can truly focus on and respond to the complaints that land in their office,’ De Lima said.
The former justice secretary added that it was all the more imperative for an Ombudsman to oversee the proceedings as the office was expected to receive additional complaints as the ICI investigation progressed.
She expressed hopes that the future Ombudsman appointee would also address the unnecessary and unfortunate dismissal of cases due to inordinate delays in fulfilling its mandate under the Constitution. ‘As the country’s Tanodbayan, the Ombudsman should champion the government’s anti-corruption efforts. It must be swift, serious, and fair in filing solid cases against erring public officials who plunder the nation’s wealth,’ she said.