Justice Sector Council and Ombudsman Sign Pact to Boost Anti-Corruption Cooperation

The Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) and the Office of the Ombudsman formalized a partnership on Monday by signing a memorandum of understanding to intensify collaboration against corruption. The signing ceremony featured Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, SC Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh and Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez. Gesmundo said the pact will align the Ombudsman's constitutional mandate with the broader justice sector, marking a new phase of coordinated anti-corruption work.

Singh highlighted that systemic reform requires collective action from the entire justice community. Remulla stressed that the Ombudsman's participation will be active, not merely observational, and affirmed that cooperation does not erode institutional independence. The agreement outlines commitments to shared information systems, policy formulation, capacity building, and tackling bottlenecks in corruption-related cases. The JSCC comprises the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, all of which will work more closely under the new framework.