Ombudsman posts 79% conviction rate as of 3Q

THE Office of the Ombudsman reported a 78.89 percent conviction rate in the first nine months of 2023 based on figures released on its Quarterly Physical Report of Operation (QPRO).

Data posted on the agency’s official website said the number represented the percentage of criminal and civil cases decided by the court that resulted in the conviction of at least one accused.

From January to March 2023, the Ombudsman recorded 234 convictions in 359 cases for a 65.18 percent rate.

This improved to 696 convictions in 784 decided cases between April to June 2023 or 88.78 percent.

However, the number declined to 75 convictions in 131 resolved cases or 57.25 percent from July to September 2023.

In all, the anti-corruption body chalked up 1005 convictions in 1,274 cases (78.79) during the first three quarters of the year.

The same report showed the total workload in terms of criminal and forfeiture cases as of September 30 reached 1,946. Of this number, the Ombudsman recorded 934 or 48 percent were resolved.

In addition, it received 1,995 administrative complaints during the same nine-month period, of which 918 or 46 percent were resolved and disposed of.

The conviction rate showed sharp improvement for the same period the previous year when the Ombudsman posted only 174 cases with convictions out of 468 decided cases or just 37.18 percent.

The bulk of the conviction was achieved in cases filed with the Regional Trial Courts (RTC) where cases against erring public officials classified as lower than Salary Grade 27 were lodged.

Data released by the Judicial Records Division of the Sandiganbayan as of September 30, 2023 showed prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman had a tougher time securing wins at the anti-graft court, posting 112 convictions against 232 decided cases or 48.3 percent.