Philippines’ Ombudsman to hire 100 new lawyers in 2026 as flood-control cases rise

The Office of the Ombudsman is set to significantly expand its legal workforce in 2026, with plans to hire 100 additional lawyers to manage what is expected to be a sharp increase in flood control–related cases in the coming months. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed the move on Monday, noting that investigations tied to infrastructure and flood mitigation projects are progressing faster than anticipated.

Remulla said the first batch of around 30 lawyers is targeted for onboarding in January, followed by 70 more by March, pending final approval of staffing requirements from the Department of Budget and Management. He added that the office is specifically looking for candidates with at least two to three years of experience – young lawyers who can bring, in his words, “energy and idealism” to an expanding caseload.

The staffing push comes on the heels of an internal review of appointments made earlier this year. In October, Remulla ordered 204 newly hired employees to reapply, citing concerns over their July appointments being considered “midnight” placements. A subsequent assessment found that 99 of the hires were questionable, having been placed in senior positions with salary grades of 25 and above shortly before the transition of leadership.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano later confirmed that most of the employees who were asked to file courtesy resignations had already complied, clearing the way for a more transparent and merit-based hiring process.

With infrastructure spending and scrutiny around it expected to intensify, the Ombudsman’s rapid expansion signals a broader effort to strengthen investigative capacity and speed up the resolution of graft complaints linked to flood control projects. Remulla said the office aims to ensure that the cases expected to surface by May can be handled promptly and efficiently.