Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT:VES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 40.47

Introduced by: Hon, RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
1" District, Province of Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This representation is well aware of some incidents involving the Office of the

Ombudsman where its findings, as an offshoot of the complaints filed, have been use:l, vither
willingly or unwittingly, to politically harass opposing party or parties.
This representation submits that as there is mo specific period under the Ombudsman

Act of 1989 (R.A, 6770) or its Rules of Procedures where the Ombudsman or his Deputy or his
Assistant must act upon receipt of the complaint and resolve and release the {ndings and
recommendations of the Hearing Oificer, the party or parties concerned are left in the dirk. so 10
speak, as to when the Ombudsman et al. acted upon receipt of the complaint and ihe results of
the decision or resolution of the Ombudsman. Also, a situation may exist where the pasty or
parties concemed can be made to speculace through a discretionary action of an “insider or
colluding emty within the Office of the Ombu * that the case filed is still pend-ug, when in
woth and in fact, the case may have been already dismissed by the aprreving avn rity in sac
Ombudsman but the seid party or parties are no: promptly informed of s:ich dism'ssa.

Yo explain further, this bili proposes or seeks to amend Seciion 26, paragray 1? of “The
Ombudsman Actof 1989" (R.A, 6770) io refiect a specific period within which tne Of ve of
the Ombudsman must act upon receipt of the complaint and the specific period that the findings
of the Office of the Ombuésman shali be handed out, or disposed of and made known by the
party or parties concerned,

earnestly and highly recommend the izamediate approval of this bill

Ay

a AMPAGOS.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
st Regular Session

HOUSE BILE. NO. 4047

Introduced by HON. RENE LOPEZ RELAMPAGOS.
1" Distriet, Bohol

AN ACT
SECTION 26, PARAGRAPH 2 OF REPUBLIC ACT
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE OMBUDSMAN ACT OF 1989

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

nded to

SECTION. 1. Section 26, paragraph 2 of Republic Act No. 6770 is het
read as follows:

(03) XXX

(2) The Officer of the Ombudsman shall receive complaints from any si
whatever form concerning an official act or omission. [t shall acy on the
complaint [immediately] WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOURS FROM
DATE OF RECEIPT azd if it finds the same
di the same and MUST inform the complainant WITHIN A PERIOD
OF FIFTEEN (15) DAYS of such dismissal citing the reasons therefor. If it
finds a reasonable ground to investigate further, it shall first furnish the
respondent public officer or employee with a summary of the complaint and
MUST require him to submit a written answer UNDER OATH within
seventy-two (72) hours from: receipt thereof. If the answer is found
satisfactory, it shall dismiss the case AND MUST INFORM THE PARTIES
WITHIN A PERIOD OF FIFTEEN (15) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF
THE DISMISSAL.

B) Xxx

ia) xXKx

SEC. 2. Repeal
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with
repealed or modified according

g Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and
provision of this Act are hereby amended,

SEC.
publication in #2

Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Official Gazette or in any national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,