Ombudsman beef up Visayas offices
The Office of the Ombudsman is beefing up its offices in the Visayas to strengthen its anti-graft campaign.
Newly appointed Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol said they will increase the number of its personnel in their Western Visayas office in Iloilo from the present nine employees to a possible 50, the minimum required for a regional office.
Apostol said the Ombudsman-Visayas also plans to establish regional office in Eastern Visayas to be located either in Tacloban City or in Palo town in Leyte.
"We are giving more emphasis on public assistance to enhance graft prevention," Apostol said in an interview.
Apostol, a native of Bugasong town in Antique, was formerly assigned at the central office of the Ombudsman before was appointed Deputy Ombudsman-Visayas on Aug 22.
He was here as one of the key speakers of the three-day Visayas-wide annual convention of Resident Ombudsmen which will end today.
Apostol said he will ensure the regular tracking of cases under his office including those filed in regular courts through a monthly monitor. He said this will help speed up the investigation and prosecution of cases.
He said he also plans to implement projects and campaigns that will improve the integrity and image of the office as an independent agency but at the same time "not obstruct the programs and projects of local government units."