Casimiro named overall deputy Ombudsman

President Arroyo has appointed Orlando Casimiro as overall deputy ombudsman in a permanent capacity after serving as officer-in-charge since March, Malacanang announced yesterday.

Casimiro has also been the deputy ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices (OMB-MOLEO) since 1999.

In his application addressed to Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council, Casimiro said one of the many highlights of his career was that for the year 2000, the OMB-MOLEO was able to dispose of a total of 4,285 cases, the highest since the formal organization of the office in July 1990.

In addition to his official duties, Casimiro said he had also provided leadership to task-oriented and ad hoc bodies within the Office of the Ombudsman.

Casimiro served as chairman of the technical working group responsible for the drafting of the code of conduct for officials and employees of the Office of the Ombudsman, gifts and benefits policy as well as post-employment ethics.

During the centennial celebration of the prestigious Silliman University in Dumaguete City on August 2001, Casimiro was chosen as one of the outstanding alumni and received the Silliman University Alumni Recognition Award.

Before joining public service, Casimiro engaged in private law practice for 12 years.

Casimiro rose from the ranks in government, having started as a graft investigation and prosecution officer to director of the Criminal Investigation Prosecution and Administrative Adjudication Bureau to acting assistant ombudsman and finally deputy ombudsman. — Aurea Calica