Ombudsman bets: Morales, 3 others on JBC list

MANILA, Philippines - The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) released yesterday its shortlist of four candidates for ombudsman, which included retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

The three others were former justice secretary Artemio

Tuquero, Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento and Presidential Commission on Good Government Commissioner Gerard Mosquera. President Aquino will pick from among the four the replacement of resigned ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, who resigned in May before she was to face a Senate impeachment court.

Each of the four got the approval of five of eight members of the council during voting.

SC spokesman Midas Marquez said the President has until Aug. 4 or 90 days from the vacancy to name the new ombudsman.

“The President should choose from the shortlist,” he said.

Carpio-Morales is reportedly Aquino’s pick. Her possible appointment is being contested by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The former president is expected to face numerous graft cases once a new ombudsman takes office.

When interviewed by the council last June 23, Carpio-Morales said her edge over 25 other candidates was her “strong moral fiber.”

She was the magistrate who penned the SC ruling that paved the way for the impeachment of Gutierrez in the House. She also administered the inaugural oath of the President last year instead of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

She denied she is biased against Arroyo, insisting her independence is indisputable. She also rebuffed criticism that she is too old for the job.

Republic Act 6770 (Ombudsman law) requires the ombudsman to be “a natural born citizen of the Philippines, at least 40 years old, member of the Philippine Bar, and must not have been candidate for any elective national or local office in the immediately preceding election whether regular or special.”

The ombudsman, who has a fixed term of seven years, must also have at least 10 years’ experience as a judge or law practitioner in the Philippines.

Deliberations of the JBC, however, focused on the need for the next ombudsman to have “recognized probity and independence.”

The JBC is chaired by Chief Justice Corona, with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Senate justice committee chair Francis Escudero and House justice committee chair Niel Tupas Jr. as ex-officio members.

Retired justices Regino Hermosisima Jr. and Aurora Lagman sit as regular members representing the retired justices and private sectors, respectively.

Lawyers Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa and Jose Mejia were the appointees of Aquino in the JBC as representatives of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and academe, respectively.