Under the Constitution, the Office of the Ombudsman is the lead agency tasked to fight graft and corruption up to the highest echelons of government. Drawing inspiration from the Swedish institution that was created in 1713 by King Charles XII to keep an eye on royal officials, the local Office of the Ombudsman has evolved from the Permanent Commission created by the Philippine Revolutionary government, the Integrity Board created in the 1950s by President Elpidio R. Quirino, the Presidential Complaints and Action Commission created by President Ramon F. Magsaysay, and the Presidential Committee on Administration Performance Efficiency of President Carlos P. Garcia.

Subsequent Presidents created similar agencies. President Diosdado P. Macapagal created a Presidential Anti-Graft Committee in 1962 while President Ferdinand E. Marcos created a Presidential Agency on Reforms and Government Operations in 1966. The Office of the Citizen’s Counselor was created by Republic Act No. 6028 in 1969.

The 1973 Constitution called for the office of the Tanodbayan, which was subsequently created by Presidential Decree 1487 issued on June 11, 1978. The Tanodbayan was empowered to receive and investigate complaints relative to public office, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations. It was authorized to make appropriate recommendations, and in appropriate case, file and prosecute criminal, civil, or administrative cases before the proper court or body, specifically the graft court – the Sandiganbayan.

Under the current law, the Office of the Ombudsman pursues its mandate through the performance of its functions, namely, to investigate anomalies and inefficiency; prosecute graft cases before the courts; conduct administrative proceedings and impose administrative penalties where the erring public official or employee may be ordered suspended or dismissed from public service; require public officials and employees to render assistance to the people; and prevent graft by heightening people’s awareness of the evils and solicit their cooperation in its eradication.

The Ombudsman has Offices headed by a deputy in each of the principal regions of the country, namely, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with a sector for the military and a prosecutorial arm, the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

We congratulate the Office of the Ombudsman headed by Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez, its Officers and Personnel, on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary. We wish them success in all their endeavors.