Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

‘RECEIVED @\
one 30 SEP zie
Time; 10 Am

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3869

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G

CUDERO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Funding is a major limitation to the Office of the Ombudsman when fulfilling its mandate
of combating corruption. The budget of the Office of the Ombudsman pales in comparison with
those allocated to its international counterparts. Consequently, corruption goes unhampered
eventually leading to massive losses in government revenues and further draining our coffers.

This bill thus intends to augment the financial resources of the Ombudsman by giving it a
share in any property forfeited in favor of the State under Republic Act No. 1379, otherwise known
as the Forfeiture Law; and thus increase its funding, This bill provides a mechanism wherein 30%
of the value of forfeited assets shall be used as funding for the Ombudsman which will assist the
continued progress of cases. This method therefore ensures additional funding to the Ombudsman,
and eliminates the need to reallocate funding from a stretched national budget,

The passage of this bill therefore is eamestly sought

EVELINA G, ESCUDERO.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3869

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. EVELINA G, ESCUDERO

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1379, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
FORFEITURE LAW, TO PROVIDE A FIXED PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF FORFEITED
PROPERTIES IN CORRUPTION CASES AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF
tHE OMBUDSMAN AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Sec. 6 of Republic Act No. 1379 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 6, Judgment. If the respondent is unable to show to the satisfaction of the
court that he has lawfully acquired the property in question, then the court shall
declare such property forfeited in favour of the State, and by virtue of sueh judgment
the property aforesaid shall become property of the State: Provided, That THIRTY
PERCENT (30%) OF THE VALUE OF SUCH PROPERTY FORFEITED IN A
FINAL AND EXECUTORY ORDER OF THE COURT SHALL BE
EARMARKED AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN FAVOR OF THE OFFICE
OF THE OMBUDSMAN; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IF THE PROPERTY
IS NOT IN CASH IT SHALL BE SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION AND THE
PROCEEDS THEREOF, AFTER DEDUCTING THE THIRTY PERCENT
(30%) FOR THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, SHALL ACCRU TO
THE GENERAL FUND, No judgment shall be rendered within six months before
any general election or within three months before any special election. The Court
may, in addition, refer to this case to the corresponding Executive Department for
administrative or criminal action, or both.”

EC. 2. Separability Clause, ~ Any portion of provisions of this Act that may be declared
unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions and provisions hereof as long
as such remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and administrative
regulations, or any parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked, repealed or modified accordingly,

SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.