LAS Piñas Representative Mark Anthony Santos has urged the Bicameral Conference Committee on Finance to allocate additional funding in the 2026 national budget to help expedite the resolution of hundreds of pending graft and corruption cases in various government agencies.
Santos emphasized that the slow disposition of graft cases undermines public confidence in the justice system and delays accountability among public officials.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. Our anti-corruption agencies need sufficient resources to accelerate investigations and court proceedings. We owe it to the Filipino people to ensure that every graft case is resolved swiftly and fairly,” Santos said.
The lawmaker noted that agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) continue to struggle with case backlogs due to limited manpower and operational constraints.
Under the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Ombudsman’s proposed 2026 budget totals ₱6.39 billion, reflecting an ₱518 million or 8.83% increase from its ₱5.87 billion allocation in 2025.
The increase covers such programs as general administration and support with P4.37 billion (up 6.79 percent); the anti-corruption investigation program with P899.76 million (up 10.66 percent); the Ombudsman public assistance program with P151.97 million (up 66.76 percent); and support to operations with P112.82 million (up 72.37 percent).
The Ombudsman had originally requested a ₱9.42 billion budget, which was reduced by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) before submission to Congress.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla earlier said his office is restructuring the entire case-handling process—from filing to resolution—to ensure quicker and more efficient investigations.
“We are reforming the system of handling cases—from filing until they reach the Sandiganbayan or the Regional Trial Court,” Remulla said.
Santos urged the bicameral panel to prioritize institutional support for these agencies, including funding for additional prosecutors, investigators, and digital case management systems.
“If we are serious about fighting corruption, then we must empower our institutions to do their jobs efficiently. This requires not just political will, but adequate funding,” he added.
Santos reaffirmed his commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in Congress, stressing that faster resolution of graft cases will help restore public trust in government and strengthen democratic governance.
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