Morales says 'God forbid' if Batacan becomes ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said “God forbid” if the former legal counsel of President Rodrigo Duterte would be the next graft-buster of the country.

For the outgoing ombudsman, her successor needs to have competence, honesty and industry, and private lawyer Edna Batacan could only take her vacated seat if she has these qualities.

“If she has all these, go ahead please, but by own indications, my God, look at her interview. You be the judge,” Morales said in an interview with ANC’ “Headstart.”

Batacan is one of the 10 vying for the ombudsman spot, which will be open by end of the month upon the retirement of Morales.

For presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Batacan—who represented Duterte in a graft case in 2010—is one of the frontrunners for the ombudsman post.

Batacan's bid for the top graft-buster spot, however, is met with opposition, from fellow lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and the Liberal Party.

Topacio accused Batacan of asking P8 million from a mutual client of theirs, in exchange for the dismissal of the case that did not happen. The LP, meanwhile, said that the lawyer “does not fit the description” of having recognized probity and independence, Constitutional requirements for the ombudsman post.

Morales, in the same interview, stressed that it was Batacan who “dug her own grave” when she admitted to becoming a “party to corruption.”

“Excuse me, I said in a previous interview, that by her statement during the interview by the [Judicial and Bar Council], she was digging her own grave because she said she was a victim,” Morales said.

The ombudsman was referring Batacan’s interview last June 20 where she alleged that the Office of the Ombudsman is “graft-ridden” as she was charged with a “parking fee” to keep a case on hold. 

“I’m a victim also, I know for a fact how it operates. Inordinate delay is contrary to the speedy disposition of cases, they have such a thing as parking fee in that office, when the case is filed and it’s just under preliminary (investigation), they will say okay, I will just keep it on hold, for resolution, keep it on hold then you pay me parking fee,” Batacan told the JBC panel.

Morales stressed that this is an indicator of Batacan being corrupt.

“So I said if you are party to corruption, you are corrupt yourself. And that was complemented by a charge by Atty. Topacio.”

The outgoing ombudsman also warned that if Duterte would place his lawyer as the next ombudsman, the president "will be judged by the people."

“That’s his lookout,” she added.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said that the panel would vote on the shortlist for the ombudsman post on July 20. The list would be submitted to Duterte on the same day.