MANILA, Philippines - Former solicitor general Frank Chavez has withdrawn his bid for the ombudsman post and vowed to pursue cases against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He filed yesterday another plunder charge against her with the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Chavez faced yesterday the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which is screening bets to the ombudsman post, only to decline his nomination after consulting with his family over the weekend.
“We had a long discussion until eventually, they have prevailed upon me to place myself effective today beyond contention. I told them that it will be a chance for me to serve the public again, but they said I have already served the public for five years,” he told the JBC.
He said his family wanted him away from “the stress and strain that would go along with the job.”
“They also told me I should just give way for younger, equally qualified candidates.”
In response, Chief Justice Renato Corona, the council’s ex-officio chair, said: “I’d like to thank you for extending your courtesy to us for coming here personally and not merely sending a letter.”
To which, Chavez replied: “I pray the President will be endowed with the gift of discernment to be able to choose the right one for the sake of our country and people.”
The former solicitor general told reporters he would file another plunder case against Arroyo for the alleged misuse of some P1.5 billion in public funds, but refused to reveal details.
Earlier, he filed a plunder case against the former leader over alleged misuse of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration funds worth over P550 million in 2004.
Four others from the 26 remaining bets – Judge Philip Aguinaldo, acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, De La Salle University law dean Jose Manuel Diokno, and advocacy lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. – were then interviewed by the JBC yesterday.
Eight other nominees, including retired SC justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, who is reportedly being eyed by President Aquino for the ombudsman post, faced the JBC last week.
The seven other nominees are former justice undersecretary Jose Calida, Ampatuan counsel Howard Calleja, Judge Alfredo Agawa, Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Pelagio Apostol, Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento and lawyers Procopio Beltran Jr. and Felix Carao Jr.
The remaining bets who will be interviewed by the council today and tomorrow are lawyers Donato Faylona, Emmanuel Bonoan, Raymundo Francisco, Catalino Generillo Jr., Court of Appeals Justice Portia Hormachuelos, judge Amelia Infante, lawyer Francis Jardeleza, Alternative Law Group head Marlon Manuel, lawyer Gerard Mosquera, judge Divinagracia Ongkeko, lawyer Renan Ramos, former Ambassador and National Labor Relations Commission chair Roy Señeres, former JBC member Artemio Tuquero and lawyer Florencio Villarin.