'Idaan sa pagma-Marites,' Ombudsman says on ₱1M confidential fund

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 14) – The Office of the Ombudsman will make ends meet with a million-peso confidential fund for next year, the country’s chief graft buster said Tuesday.

“Yan yung sinasabi ng mga matatanda… mamaluktot ka 'pag maiksi ang kumot 'di ba? [That's what old people say… you'll curl up if the blanket is too short, right?]” Ombudsman Samuel Martires told reporters right after his office’s proposed ₱5.347 billion budget breezed through the Senate’s plenary deliberations with no questions.

The Ombudsman was initially granted a ₱51 million confidential fund under the National Expenditure Program submitted by the Department and Budget and Management, but the office itself agreed to reduce it to ₱1 million.

Asked by the media if this would suffice, Martires said: “Idaan mo sa ngiti baka matulungan ka ng iba, idaan mo sa pagma-Marites.” [Pass it with a smile, maybe others will help you, pass it with being Marites (gossip)]

“In fact, I'll be honest with you, kung minsan nakakapulot ako ng impormasyon dahil sa inyo eh [sometimes I get information because of you]," he added. «With that, all I have to do is to validate the information I got from the members of the press.»

Martires said the Office of the Ombudsman will use its confidential fund for its various probes and surveillance activities, as well as to ensure the safety of its personnel.

Meanwhile, he said his office will look into the possibility of launching a motu proprio investigation on the proliferation of Philippine birth certificates, passports and various government IDs to foreign nationals.

Senate President Juan Miguel «Migz» Zubiri is pushing for stiff penalties for government officials and employees involved in the scheme.