Daphne Galvez
August 27, 2026
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Wednesday, Aug. 26, that more officials may be subjected to lifestyle checks based on information his office is gathering
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla
The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting lifestyle checks on 107
government officials, particularly those in “income-generating” agencies
such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Bureau of Customs
(BOC)
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Wednesday,
Aug. 26, that more officials may be subjected to the checks based on
information his office is gathering
“We have been actively
pursuing information on the people in (the Bureau of) Customs, in LTO
and other income-generating agencies of the government, because this is
where most of the lifestyle sins happen,” Remulla said during
deliberations on the ombudsman’s proposed 2027 budget before the House
committee on appropriations
The move came after President Marcos
ordered lifestyle checks on all government officials following the
emergence of the multibillion-peso flood control scandal
Remulla’s
predecessor, Samuel Martires, stopped the conduct of lifestyle checks,
citing supposedly “vague” and “illogical” provisions in the law that
establishes the code of conduct and ethical standards for government
employees and officials
Under Republic Act No. 6713, public
officials and employees and their families “shall lead modest lives
appropriate to their positions and income” and “should not indulge in
extravagant or ostentatious displays of wealth in any form.”
The
Commission on Audit, meanwhile, has admitted that its shortage of field
auditors is a “cause for concern” amid ongoing investigations into the
multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal
COA assistant
commissioner Lorna Cabochan made the admission during the agency’s 2027
budget deliberations before the House committee on appropriations, where
lawmakers raised questions about its capability to monitor government
projects
“It is a cause for concern. Because the agencies are adding and at present, we still lack auditors in the field,” Cabochan said
Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña questioned whether the commission’s manpower gap had already been addressed
He
pointed out that its report last year showed only two auditors assigned
to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ first district
engineering office of Bulacan, which has been at the center of the flood
control corruption scandal
Although 332 personnel were restored
by the Department of Budget and Management in July, Cabochan said the
commission still needs “almost 400” positions after removing 716 from
the COA plantilla
She also explained that the shortage stems from
auditors leaving the agency for higher-paying jobs, closer proximity to
their residences and more flexible work arrangements. Some have
transferred to other government agencies or opted for retirement at age
60
Cendaña described the commission’s current manpower situation
as “alarming,” warning that the continuing shortage could affect the
government’s planned infrastructure spending, particularly flood control
projects
“If the audit fails again, or if there are not enough
auditors and the audit is slow, we will have a repeat performance of
2025,” he warned
COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba disclosed that the
auditing body needs nearly P2.5 billion to establish 146 additional
pre-audit teams composed of audit, technical and administrative
personnel
The proposed investment could strengthen the COA’s
ability to detect irregularities before government funds are fully
disbursed, he said
