Select Page

The Seal

This emblem symbolizes the mandates and roles of the Office of the Ombudsman.

ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC

The shield, balance, and dagger signify the assistance which the Ombudsman should provide the public proactively (dagger) as the protector of the people (shield) in a just and sincere manner (balance).

FIGHT AGAINST GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

The same shield, balance, and dagger signify the fight against graft and corruption. The shield containing the elements of the Philippine flag signifies the Office as the protector of the people against unscrupulous civil servants. The balance represents fairness and justness in handling of complaints against erring civil servants. The same balance symbolizes the fight against graft and corruption through the balanced use of both the confrontational (investigation and prosecution) and psychological (corruption prevention) approaches. The dagger affirms the punitive measures the Office can impose upon those civil servants found to have committed unscrupulous acts.

PROMOTION OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND NORMS OF CONDUCT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS

The laurels speak of honor and distinction for the Office to serve as a model in promoting the highest standards of ethics in the entire government bureaucracy.

The first branch with seven laurel leaves in particular represents the promotion of the policy that public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and lead modest lives (cf. Article XI, Section 1, 1987 Constitution).

The other branch with seven laurel leaves represents the promotion by the Office of the norms of conduct of public officials and employees pursuant to Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6713, namely, commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy, and simple living.

The branches and leaves and its green color in general represent hope and national progress resulting from the efforts of the Office to promote public accountability and the norms of conduct of public officers beginning with the youth. These branches and leaves shall also reflect the concerted and united efforts of communities as inspired by the Office towards the inculcation of public accountability and values that shall lead to a graft-free society.