The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) awarded service honors to 61 employees during its 38th anniversary celebration, recognizing their long years of service and dedication to public service.

In his speech, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla underscored the role of the OMB and its employees in safeguarding the country’s future and sustaining the fight against corruption.

“Sa ikamumulat ng taumbayan, may pag-asa pa ang republika ng bayan. May pag-asa pa ang ating bansa. Ang binigay sa ating trabaho dito ay isang trabaho na sa ating pinagkatiwala ang kinabukasan ng Republika ng Pilipinas (So the public may realize that there is still hope for the Republic. There is still hope for our country. The work entrusted to us is one where the future of the Republic of the Philippines has been placed in our hands),” he said.

Likewise, Remulla encouraged employees to continue performing their duties with integrity and dedication.

“Basta mahalaga, ginagawa natin ang trabaho natin. Malinis ang ating konsensya. Ang binabayad sa atin ng taumbayan ay sulit na sulit at hindi tayo nagdadalawang isip sa pagharap ng ating tungkulin (What is important is that we are doing our job. Our conscience is clear. The salary paid to us by the public is well worth it, and we do not hesitate in fulfilling our duties),” he added.

Of the 61 service awardees, the OMB said 47 personnel have been serving the institution for more than 30 years.

Remulla said three awardees namely Antonio Feliciano, Maria Agnes Forteza, and Rosalia Hipolito have been serving the OMB since its creation in 1988.

Starting out as clerks, the three employees eventually rose through the ranks while continuing their service in the anti-graft body.

Feliciano, now serving as a Supervising Administrative Officer, underscored the importance of integrity in public service, saying public servants should not accept bribes and must deliver honest service.

Meanwhile, Hipolito, an Administrative Assistant, said the sense of family within the OMB contributed to her decades-long stay in the institution. 

She also emphasized the importance of the OMB’s role in fighting corruption and holding accountable even high-ranking government officials.

For Graft Investigation Officer Forteza, assisting the public through the Ombudsman’s work gave her a sense of fulfillment.