FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
257 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAR ROXAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Office of the Ombudsman has been mandated by the Constitution with immense 
responsibilities. As the "protector of the people," it is the Ombudsman which has been 
granted the power to act on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials 
and to investigate any act or omission when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, 
improper, or inefficient. 
Despite the immensity of the expectations and the burden placed on the Ombudsman 
and considering the enormity and responsibilities mandated by law, the Ombudsman does 
not have the necessary resources to accomplish its mandate. Because of their heavy work 
load and meager resources, public prosecutors are always at a disadvantage when litigating 
before the Sandiganbayan and Supreme Court. Corrupt public officials, more often than not, 
operate from a position of strength given their financial capability and ability to retain top- 
notch legal services. 
There is a need to neutralize this built-in advantage by allowing the Ombudsman to 
draw on the experience and expertise of private lawyers. This bill seeks to allow the Office of 
the Ombudsman to augment its rank of lawyers by allowing it to designate or deputize 
private lawyers to assist in the prosecution and investigation of cases pending before ?he 
Sandiganbayan. Furthermore, the participation of private prosecutors will be on a pro bono 
basis, and only incidental and necessary expenses are to be paid by the Ombudsman 
In coming up with a strong prosecution panel to represent the government in graft 
cases, the Office of the Ombudsman must not be limited to assistance from those in public 
service. By including private lawyers among those who can serve as prosecutors of the 
Ombudsman, the government is better equipped in its battle against perpetrators of 
corruption. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MAXROXAS 
AN ACT 
ALLOWING PRIVATE PROSECUTORS TO ASSIST THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN 
IN THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CASES, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6770 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “OMBUDSMAN 
ACT OF 1989” 
Be it enacted bv the Senate and the House OfRepresentatives in Congress assembIed 
 SECTION^. 
Section 31 of Republic Act No. 6770 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“SECTION 31. Designation of Investigators and Prosecutors. The Ombudsman 
may utilize the personnel of his office and or designate or deputize any fiscal, state 
prosecutor or lawyer in the government service OR ANY PRIVATE LAWYER to act 
as special investigator or prosecutor to assist in the investigation and prosecution of 
cases. Those designated and deputized by him herein shall be under his supervision 
and control. 
“The Ombudsman and his investigators and prosecutors, whether regular 
members of his staff or designated by him as herein provided, shall have the authority 
to administer oaths, to issues subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, to summon and 
compel witnesses to appear and testify under oath before them andor bring books, 
documents and other things under their control, and to secure the attendance or 
presence of any absent or recalcitrant witness through application before the 
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Sandiganbayan or before any inferior or superior court having jurisdiction of the 
place where the witness or evidence is found.” 
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SEC. 2. New Sections, to be numbered as Sections 31-A and 31-B, shall be inserted 
after Section 31 of Republic Act No. 6770, to read as follows: 
“SEC. 31-A PRIVATE LAWYERS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, THE 
TERM PRIVATE LAWYER SHALL MEAN OR BE UNDERSTOOD AS FOLLOWS: 
(1) ANY PERSON LEARNED IN THE LAW AS AN ATTORNEY, COUNSEL, 
OR A PERSON LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW, WHO HAS BEEN IN 
THE PRACTICE FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS; 
(2) ANY LAWYER WHO IS NOT EMPLOYED IN ANY GOVERNM-ENT 
AGENCY AND WHO IS NOT PAID OUT OF PUBLIC FUNDS; 
“SEC. 31-B. PRO BONO SERVICE THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THE 
PRIVATE LAWYERS UNDER AND PURSUANT TO THIS ACT SHALL BE PRO 
BONO AND THEY SHALL NOT RECEIVE ANY FORM OF COMPENSATION 
EXCEPT FOR NECESSARY INCIDENTAL, ANDREPRESENTATION EXPENSES 
WHICH SHALL BE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE OMBUDSMAN 
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effect. 
SEC. 3. 
Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, the 
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
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SEC. 4. 
Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and regulations, 
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executive or administrative orders, and other presidential issuances inconsistent with this 
Act, are hereby repealed or amended or modified accordingly. 
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whichever comes first. 
SEC. 5. Effecriw?y This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official Gazette, 
Approved. 
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