PASAY, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines successfully hosted the 2026 Full Members’ Meeting of the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF) from 16 to 18 June 2026, bringing together ombudsman institutions and international partners to strengthen regional cooperation, institutional excellence, public accountability, and good governance.

The gathering was attended by delegates from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Sarawak (Malaysia), and Punjab (Pakistan), with the participation and continued support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Held under the theme of advancing regional partnership and institutional cooperation, the three-day meeting featured strategic discussions on SEAOF’s governance framework, future direction, regional expansion, capacity-building initiatives, comparative institutional practices, complaints management systems, and the evolving role of innovation and technology in ombudsman work.

In his opening message, Philippine Ombudsman and 2025–2026 SEAOF Chair Jesus Crispin C. Remulla underscored the need for SEAOF to evolve beyond a platform for dialogue into a community of action — where the collective experiences of member institutions are transformed into practical solutions, stronger institutions, and meaningful reforms.

The meeting opened with a “Kumustahan” session, a Filipino tradition of checking in and reconnecting, where participating institutions shared updates on leadership developments, institutional priorities, operational realities, emerging challenges, and opportunities for cooperation.
Members also reviewed key foundational documents, including SEAOF’s Memorandum of Intent, Terms of Reference, and Membership Guidelines, as part of continuing efforts to strengthen the Forum’s governance structure, organizational sustainability, and long-term regional mandate.
A historic milestone of the meeting was the formal admission of the Office of the Sarawak Ombudsman, Malaysia, as SEAOF’s first Associate Member, marking a significant expansion of the Forum’s regional community.

“Today, we mark another milestone in SEAOF’s journey as we officially welcome the Office of the Sarawak Ombudsman as the Forum’s first Associate Member. To Chief Ombudsman Dato Sri Abdul Ghafur Shariff and colleagues — thank you for your patience, trust, and commitment throughout this process since your expression of interest last year,” Remulla said.

“Your admission is more than the completion of membership formalities; it is the beginning of a deeper partnership founded on shared values and a common aspiration to advance accountability and good governance across Southeast Asia,” he added.

The second day focused on strengthening SEAOF’s strategic foundation, beginning with the presentation of the preliminary findings of the SEAOF Comparative Study, developed with the support of UNODC. The study maps the mandates, structures, powers, and institutional practices of participating ombudsman offices to identify opportunities for knowledge exchange and future cooperation.

Members also discussed the SEAOF Strategic Roadmap for 2027–2028, which will guide the Forum’s initiatives around key priorities, including institutional capacity-building; cooperation and exchange of best practices; and knowledge, research, and innovation, with advocacy serving as a cross-cutting priority.

The meeting likewise discussed SEAOF’s leadership transition, with the Office of the Ombudsman Thailand set to assume the chairmanship for 2027–2028, followed by Timor Leste for 2029–2030.

As part of the learning exchange component, participants explored regional and international practices in investigations, complaints management, institutional development, resource mobilization, knowledge management, digital transformation, and the responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence in enhancing ombudsman services.

Delegates also participated in cultural activities showcasing Philippine heritage before the gathering concluded with a farewell dinner, celebrating strengthened partnerships and renewed commitments among member institutions.
The 2026 SEAOF Full Members’ Meeting reaffirmed the Forum’s growing role as a regional platform for collaboration, institutional learning, innovation, administrative justice, and the advancement of public trust across Southeast Asia and beyond.