CEBU LAWMAKER EYES AMENDMENTS TO OMBUDSMAN LAW

Republic Act 6770 (The Ombudsman Act of 1989) mandates the ombudsman and his deputies to serve as “protectors of the people” and act promptly on complaints filed against government officials and employees

Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia said she plans to draft in 2018 a bill seeking to amend the ombudsman law.

“I’m presently studying the ombudsman law because it would seem that right now, there are certain actions, or certain moves, by the ombudsman, which seem to go beyond the boundaries given to it,” the congresswoman of Cebu’s third district said.

Under Republic Act 6770, or The Ombudsman Act of 1989, the ombudsman and his deputies are mandated to serve as “protectors of the people” and act promptly on complaints filed against government officials and employees.

The law, enacted in November 1989, also mandates the ombudsman to enforce the administrative, civil and criminal liability in every case.

Garcia has authored several measures since the beginning of the 17th Congress.

Passed on third and final reading at the plenary is House Bill 6604, which seeks to give candidates for election a 50-percent discount for political propaganda on television, print and radio.

Garcia co-authored this bill with other lawmakers, including House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Misamis Occidental Second District Rep. Henry Oaminal.

Garcia is also a co-author of the bill seeking to allow dissolution of marriage and another bill that will recognize unions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples.

She is also one of the authors of the bill that seeks to legalize Church-decreed annulment of marriage and the bill restoring the subpoena powers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Garcia is also one of the authors of the bill known as the Sogie Equality Act, which seeks to penalize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression (Sogie).

Garcia has also authored local bills. These include the act declaring Jan. 6 a special non-working holiday in Toledo City, Cebu in celebration of its charter day and another bill declaring Aug. 30 a holiday in Mandaue City, Cebu, as it is the city’s charter day.

Following the enactment of the bill on the free tuition in state universities and colleges, Garcia filed a resolution seeking to compel the state universities in Cebu City to establish branches in the rural areas.

“Meron akong mga resolutions asking for state universities na meron kami doon to put up their own branches in our towns especially since we will already be having free tuition and miscellaneous (fees) for students of state universities and colleges,” Garcia told SunStar Philippines.

Garcia said she believes the resolution will give opportunities to the poor and deserving students who live far from Cebu City.