MANILA – Amid the escalating deluge of flood control corruption cases expected to flood the Office of the Ombudsman by mid-2026, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced plans to hire 100 experienced lawyers next year, ramping up the agency’s prosecutorial firepower to confront the P20-billion scandal that’s ensnared lawmakers, officials, and contractors in a web of ghost projects and kickbacks. The recruitment drive, set to kick off with 30 hires in January and swell to 70 more by March’s end, marks a strategic bulwark against an anticipated case avalanche, as Remulla vows to “build solid cases” without the drag of understaffing or midnight hires.
The hiring blitz, detailed during a December 8, 2025, media briefing, comes as the Ombudsman grapples with the fallout from a controversial July 2024 appointment spree that Remulla himself later branded “questionable.” Of the 204 new employees rushed in at fiscal year-end, 99 were flagged for high-level postings (salary grade 25 and above, earning around P111,000 monthly), prompting a reapplication mandate to weed out potential cronies. “I’m hiring 100 new lawyers—not entirely new, but with at least two to three years’ experience. What matters is they have energy and idealism,” Remulla emphasized, his tone a mix of resolve and realism. The push hinges on finalizing the agency’s plantilla with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), a bureaucratic hoop he hopes to clear for seamless onboarding.
Remulla’s timeline is tight but telling: “I think we will have a lot of cases by May. That’s why we’re hiring around 30 lawyers in January and 70 more by the end of March, hopefully.” The surge anticipates a tidal wave from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which has already filed six referrals recommending graft and malversation charges against figures like ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co (still at large in Portugal) and contractors Sarah Discaya. With nine suspects in custody and arrest warrants looming for senators, the Ombudsman foresees a prosecutorial pile-up that demands more hands on deck. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano noted that most of the 204 hires have since filed courtesy resignations, clearing the decks for a merit-based refresh.
The flood control fiasco – a P20-billion black hole of phantom dikes, substandard builds, and kickback rings – has left communities like Bulacan’s defenseless against typhoons like Uwan, sparking the Trillion Peso March and eroding trust in public spending. Remulla, who took the helm in 2023 vowing “no sacred cows,” sees the lawyer influx as essential armor: “We need the manpower to build solid cases against those responsible for the plunder of public funds.” Yet, the hiring isn’t without hurdles – the DBM’s plantilla approval could snag on budget constraints, and the Office of the Solicitor General is mulling a Supreme Court reconsideration of a related ruling on PhilHealth fund diversions tied to the mess.
For a nation still mopping up from scandal’s splash, Remulla’s recruitment rally feels like a dam against the deluge: 100 fresh faces to chase the ghosts of graft, ensuring justice doesn’t drown in delays. As the 2026 midterms loom, this staffing surge isn’t just headcount – it’s a hedge against history’s repeat, proving that in the graft grapple, numbers matter as much as nerve.
Ombudsman Hiring Snapshot (2026 Plan):
| Phase | Number of Lawyers | Timeline | Experience Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 30 | January | 2-3 years |
| Phase 2 | 70 | End of March | 2-3 years |
| Total | 100 | By Q1 2026 | Energy & Idealism |