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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman fights back, vows to run after those behind investigators' data leak

Ombudsman fights back, vows to run after those behind investigators' data leak

Published Apr 26, 2026 03:00 pm
(Photo: Office of the Ombudsman Facebook page)
(Photo: Office of the Ombudsman Facebook page)
The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) on Sunday, April 26, vowed to run after those behind the malicious online disclosure of its investigators’ identities.
It said coordination is now being done with he National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group to identify and pursue charges under the Data Privacy Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
The leak of investigators’ identities, according to the Office of the Ombudsman is a “blatant attempt to intimidate public servants and directly jeopardizes their personal safety.”
“The Office of the Ombudsman strongly condemns the malicious online disclosure of our investigators' identities,” it said, adding that the recent filings involving high-ranking officials are part of a deliberate tactical sequence.
“This specific complaint reached the courts first due to its position in our investigative pipeline, but it is merely a preliminary component of a broader, multi-stage legal strategy,” it said in a statement.
“These initial measures are designed to secure the State’s interests and prevent the flight of individuals or assets while the universe of cases continue to mature,” it added.
As such, the Ombudsman said it is not their duty of this Office to "lawyer" for the respondents. 
“Our mandate at this stage is focused on fact-finding and securing the jurisdiction of the State,” it said.
The OMB noted that respondents may question the credibility of witnesses and the veracity of affidavits during the preliminary investigation.
“It is the respondent's responsibility to raise his own defenses; this Office will not preempt that legal process by litigating the case in the court of public opinion,” it went on.

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Ombudsman coordinates NBI PNP investigators data leak after filings vs top officials
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