Ombudsman wants systemic reforms, not just accountability, in anti-corruption fight

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized the need to go beyond mere accountability in the anti-corruption fight, calling for systemic reforms to address the root causes of corruption.

Speaking at the Sikhay Laban sa Korapsyon forum for International Anti-Corruption Day, Remulla stated that corruption has dire, even fatal, consequences and that the nation's focus must shift from just identifying wrongdoers to demanding systemic changes.

He argued that without reforms, the same corrupt practices will persist under different individuals.

Remulla announced that the Ombudsman's office plans to implement reforms, focusing on digitalization and prompt action, by February of the following year.

The office is developing a fully digital database, integrating systems, utilizing digital forensics, tamper-proof networks, AI-supported verification, and secure investigative workflows to combat corruption crimes that often rely on weak data and disappearing paper trails.