Origins

Origins

The OMBUDSMAN is a time-tested institution which evolved in the Scandinavian countries. It was aimed at giving the common people a tribunal to which they can readily ventilate their grievances against the government. King Charles XII of Sweden is generally credited with initiating the office of the ombudsman. An official with the title of Hogsta Ombudsman (Supreme Royal Ombudsman) was appointed in 1713. He was assigned to “keep an eye on royal officials” and supervise observance of the laws. Sometimes he was even commissioned to represent the king in some official functions. Introduced in the Constitution of 1809, an Ombudsman was appointed by Swedish Parliament, making the office independent from the King. Ombudsman comes from the Norwegian word Umbodhsmadhr, meaning Administration Man or King’s Representative. As a Swedish word, it literally means one who represents another.

The Dictionary generally defines Ombudsman as a government official who investigates complaints against the government or its functionaries. On the basis of his functions, the Ombudsman has also been described as a public defender, a grievance man, a watchman over the law’s watchmen, voice of the citizen, and citizen’s counselor. Essentially, the Ombudsman protects citizens against injustices committed by civil officials.

Reference:

National Historical Institute, Letter dated July 28, 1998 to Special Prosecutor Leonardo P. Tamayo from Hon. Samuel K. Tan, NHI Chairman and Executive Director

Office of the Ombudsman, Ombudsman’s Journal Anniversary Issue, Vol. 1, No. 1, May 9, 1996

Office of the Tanodbayan “Primer on the Tanodbayan” September 21, 1980

Tanglao-Dacanay, Corazon, D.L.P., Case Notes on RA 6770, July 26, 2000