Next deputy for Visayas: JBC names Ombuds candidates

CEBU, Philippines - The Judicial and Bar Council has revealed the names of the nine candidates for the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas.

The office will be vacant upon the retirement of Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol on August 21, 2014.

 Among the candidates are Ombudsman director Carla Juris Narvios-Tanco, former Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg, who is now the head of the Regional Court Administration Office in Central Visayas, Paul Elmer M. Clemente, Jose Vicente R.M. Opinion, Jennifer J. Manalili, Gilbert G. Kintanar, Mary Susan S. Guillermo, Roque Damian A. Dator, and Vicente L. Gengos Jr.

The members of the JBC held a public interview on the candidates Wednesday except for Dator, Econg, and Gengos who were already interviewed ahead.

Apostol was appointed Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas on July 19, 2007. Among the landmark cases he resolved during his incumbency were the controversial lamppost procurement during the 12th ASEAN Summit in 2007, which is now pending before the Sandiganbayan, the alleged anomaly in the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center which is now pending for approval by the Ombudsman in Manila, the purchase of the Balili property, the computer scam in Bacolod City, and Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Apostol said that during his term, the anti-graft office in the Visayas prioritized high profile cases or those involving big amount of money.

Apostol, a native of Zaragoza, Bugasong, Antique, is married to Genara of Cabatuan, Iloilo and blessed with three siblings.

He replaced former Deputy Ombudsman Primo Miro in 2007.

Before his appointment as Deputy Ombudsman, Apostol served as assistant ombudsman in Manila, OIC-director of the Office of the Ombudsman, special prosecution officer, court attorney of the Supreme Court, senior budget specialist and budget analyst of the Department of Budget and Management, and deputized special attorney of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Apostol is also a former marine soldier and now a reservist with a rank of lieutenant colonel and has been designated as deputy commander of the 8th Marine Brigade with four Marine Reserve Battalions under him.— (FREEMAN)