LGUs has most cases in Ombuds for 2016

CEBU, Philippines - For the sixth year running, local government units (LGUs) topped the list of government agencies with most cases filed before the Office of the Ombudsman in 2016 based on a report submitted by the Ombudsman's Finance and Management Information Office.

There were 2,799 cases filed against LGUs in 2016 which shows an increase of 102 from the 2,697 recorded cases in 2015.

The year 2011 still has the highest number of cases against LGUs with 3,854. There were 2,669 cases filed in 2012; 2,014 cases in 2013; and 2,053 in 2014.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) ranks second for 2016 with 1,022 cases, followed by the Department of Education (DepEd) with 222, then the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with 201. Fifth is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with 120 cases.

The 2,799 cases consist of administrative and criminal complaints filed against 1,700 city/municipal officials; 892 cases against barangay officials, and 204 cases against provincial officials.

The PNP has also consistently ranked second beginning in 2011 with 1,709 cases filed against members of the PNP; 1,415 in 2012; 1,312 in 2013; 1,258 in 2014 and 1,265 in 2015.

Other agencies in the top 10 are State Universities and Colleges ranked sixth with 109 cases, Bureau of Customs with 104 (seventh), Department of Justice with 88 (eighth), Department of Agriculture with 85 cases (ninth), and House of Representatives with 84 (tenth).

The year 2016 also marks the first year that the House of Representatives has been included in the top 10 since 2011. (FREEMAN)