Philippines

Sets out the structure, powers and duties of the Office of the Ombudsman. Section 15 lets the Office investigate and prosecute public officers, section 21 gives it disciplinary authority over most officials, and section 25 sets penalties from suspension without pay of up to one year to dismissal with forfeiture of benefits. Section 17 protects a compelled witness from later prosecution for what the testimony disclosed and lets the Ombudsman grant immunity to a person whose testimony is needed, and section 32(1) lets a witness ask the Ombudsman for security for his person and family. The witness provisions protect people who testify before the Office and are not a general whistleblower or employment-retaliation scheme.