A clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman is needed to show that you do not have any pending administrative or criminal case, or that you have not had any prior conviction by the same office. After all, one of the ways by which fitness to office can be shown and duly ascertained is by having an incontrovertible proof of untainted record of public service.
HOW TO GO TO THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN
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| The Office of the Ombudsman central office along Agham Road. |
The central office of the Office of the Ombudsman is located along Agham Road in Quezon City. There are deputy offices in Visayas and Mindanao, too, but this guide will focus on the central office in Quezon City.
There are several commuting options en route to the Office of the Ombudsman.
If you are coming from the southern portion of NCR, the best way to reach Agham Road is by taking the EDSA MRT bound for North Avenue. Get off at Quezon Avenue Station. From here, the Office of the Ombudsman is a 15-minute walk starting from Eton Centris going to Bantayog ng mga Bayani and the NAPOCOR headquarters along Quezon Avenue. At the NAPOCOR intersection, turn left going to Agham Road. Walk past the Children's Medical Center and the Court of Tax Appeals and from there you will spot an enormous building in a baby pink hue. You have reached your destination.
In the alternative, from Quezon Avenue Station you may also choose to hail a cab, or book a car from Grab, or ride a pedicab stationed in front of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani en route to the Office of the Ombudsman.
For those coming from EDSA Balintawak, or those getting off from the North Avenue Station of the MRT, the best way to reach the Office of the Ombudsman is by going to the SM City North EDSA jeepney terminal and taking a jeepney bound for UP Diliman. Coming from North Avenue, this jeepney will pass by Agham Road past the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus. The Office of the Ombudsman is right next to PSHS.
If you are coming from Fairview in Quezon City, you may take a jeepney or UV Express van or city bus bound for Quiapo and get off at Children's Medical Center. From here you can walk past the hospital and the Court of Tax Appeals en route to the Office of the Ombudsman.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Note that the central office of the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City is probably one of the most highly secured government offices in the country. There are multiple layers of security coming in, not to mention multiple CCTV cameras everywhere you look. Network signal is also very weak inside the building. This is due in part to the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman deals with several high-profile cases and partly due to the anti-corruption drive intended to deter illegal transactions within the premises. Aside from having one's stuff pass through an x-ray machine, it is also required to leave a government-issued ID at the lobby, register at the logbook of guests, and submit to biometric scanning.
Step 1: Once granted a visitor ID, proceed to the holding area where you need to fill out a form for clearance application. The holding area is akin to an aquarium surrounded by glass panels, so people outside can see what's going on inside. The form requires basic identification information and the reason for requesting for a clearance. Bring a valid government-issued ID and a photocopy thereof. Submit the form with the photocopy of your ID to the staff at the holding area. Wait for your name to be called.
Due to the relatively less number of people applying for an Ombudsman clearance, the cleanliness and orderliness of the premises are highly commendable. The holding area is carpeted and accented by wooden panels and metal seats. In addition, the airconditioner does not conk out, and there are amenities for applicants that are otherwise not available in most government offices, such as newspapers and magazines, drinking water, and even coffee. TV is also available to while away time.
Step 2: Once your name is called, proceed to the cashier's office right next to the holding area. Clearance fee is P140 and legal research fee is P10, or a total of P150. Certified copies of the clearance may also be requested at P10 each.
Step 3: Across the cashier's office is where you need to submit your form and receipt of payment. You will need to log your name, email address, and phone number in a separate sheet before the staff proceed to pore over your form to make sure it is properly filled out. You will be informed that the research and printing of the clearance will take about an hour. Proceed to the holding area to wait.
Step 4: If your name does not have a "hit" in the Ombudsman's database of pending and resolved cases, then you will receive your duly signed and sealed clearance within the same day. Otherwise, your clearance will indicate any pending or resolved administrative or criminal cases in your name.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Quality of service: GOOD
Quality of facilities: GOOD
Quality of employees: GOOD
If you are unable to personally apply for a clearance from the central office of the Office of the Ombudsman, you may visit SM Business Center to have your clearance application processed but at an extra cost and for a longer waiting period extending up to about a few days.