Manila, Philippines – It has been over two months since the Ombudsman position became vacant following the end of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires’ term last July.
And on the first Monday of October, the Judicial and Bar Council submitted before the Malacañang the names of the seven nominees out of 17 applicants shortlisted for the position.
Among them are:
1. Michael Aguinaldo, former Commission on Audit Chairperson
2. Stephen Cruz, retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice
3. Samuel Gaerlan, Supreme Court Associate Justice
4. Anna Liza Logan, Deputy Executive Secretary
5. Mario Lopez, Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice
6. Michael Frederick Musngi, Sandigan Associate Justice
7. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Department of Justice Secretary
The Office of the Ombudsman holds the mandate to investigate and persecute public officials involved in graft and corruption acts.
JBC submitted the list on Monday, but over the weekends, Senator Imee Marcos confirmed that Remulla will be designated as the news Ombudsman the same day the list was confirmed.
The senator described this as a forced designation of an individual not worthy of the position, and is someone who still has a pending case.
It can be recalled that Remulla is among the government officials who were the respondents of the kidnapping and arbitrary detention complaints filed by Marcos, in relation to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest in March.
Under existing laws, nominees for the Ombudsman position should not have any pending case, either criminal or administrative ones.
The President is set to name the new Ombudsman within 90-days following the submission of the short list.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News