The next Ombudsman

As the nation anticipates the upcoming vacancy in the Office of the Ombudsman, the choice of the next appointee looms large — not merely as a personnel change, but as a defining moment for the country’s moral compass.

The Ombudsman, by constitutional design, is the “protector of the people,” tasked with investigating and prosecuting government officials accused of wrongdoing. It is an office that must rise above politics, uphold public accountability, and operate with unflinching integrity.

The Ombudsman is not just a prosecutor; it is a check on power. Armed with investigatory and prosecutorial powers, the Ombudsman plays a critical role in weeding out corruption and ensuring that no public official, regardless of position or political affiliation, is above the law. It is this independence that gives the institution its strength — and that makes the appointment of its head a matter of national importance.

But the stakes are higher today than ever before. The Philippines finds itself fractured by bitter political rivalries and tribal allegiances. In an era where loyalty often trumps truth, and disinformation corrodes public trust, the credibility of oversight institutions is constantly under siege. The next Ombudsman will not be operating in a vacuum. The office will be entering an arena shaped by suspicion, polarization and deepening cynicism toward democratic institutions.

This is precisely why the next Ombudsman must be beyond reproach — not only in legal competence, but in moral courage. The appointee must have the independence to investigate without fear and to prosecute without favor. Their fidelity must lie solely with the Constitution and the Filipino people — not with the appointing authority, political benefactors, or prevailing narratives.

More than ever, the Filipino public needs to believe that justice is still possible, that the law still protects the weak and holds the powerful accountable. The next Ombudsman must help restore that belief by pursuing accountability without regard to the color of one’s party or the power of one’s allies. That is the role the office was meant to play, and it is what this fractured nation needs now.

This is not merely a question of who will be appointed — it is a question of whether our institutions can still rise above politics to serve the people. The next Ombudsman must be a bulwark against corruption and impunity. In so doing, they may help stitch together a divided nation — not with rhetoric, but with justice.