.. 
NAIS ni House Deputy Minority Leader at Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Congresswoman Leila M. de Lima na magkaroon ng kapangyarihan ang Office of the Ombudsman na buksan at busisiin ang bank accounts o records sa pag-iimbestiga nito nang hindi na kinakailangan pang kumuha ng court order.
Sa ilalim ng House Bill No. 5701, partikular na isinusulong ng lady House deputy minority leader ang pag-amyenda sa Section 15 (8) ng Republic Act 6770 (Ombudsman Act of 1989), at Section 2 ng RA 1405 (Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits).
Ani De Lima, bagama’t mayroong mandato bilang siyang pangunahing tagapaglaban sa katiwalian sa pamahalaan, ang Office of the Ombudsman ay kinakailangan pang humingi ng basbas ng korte kung nais nitong magkaroon ng access at siyasatin ang anumang bank accounts at records.
Dagdag ng ML party-list lawmaker, nagmistulang tali rin ang kamay ng Ombudsman sa pagpapalabas ng anumang subpoena para kinakailangan nitong bank records dahil sa isang desisyon na ipinalabas ng Supreme Court (SC).
“It can be recalled that the Supreme Court, in interpreting Section 15 (8) of “The Ombudsman Act of 1989,” declared in Marquez v. Desierto (2001) that, without a case in court, the Office of the Ombudsman cannot examine and access bank accounts and records that are subject of its investigation or inquiry,” ani De Lima.
“To clarify this matter and to supplant Marquez, there is a need to amend Section 15 (8) of RA 6770 and Section 2 of RA 1405”, to expressly grant the Office of the Ombudsman the authority to examine and access bank accounts and records, without the necessity of going to court,” giit pa niya.
Ayon kay De Lima, sa bisa ng inihaing panukala, hindi lamang mapapalakas ang subpoena power ng Office of the Ombudsman, makatutulong din ito para maisagawa ang kaukulang imbestigasyon sa anumang alegasyon ng anomalya at irregularidad sa pamahalaan.
“This will also help in deterring corrupt officials and their accomplices in taking advantage of legal loopholes in our banking system,” aniya pa.
“If this measure is enacted into law, the Ombudsman shall have the power to “administer oaths, issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum, and take testimony in any investigation or inquiry, including the power to examine and have access to bank accounts and records that are the subject of its inquiry or investigation without need of a case in court or a court order.” (ROMER R. BUTUYAN)
