Ex-SMC lawyer is new deputy ombudsman for Luzon

Manila, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed a former lawyer of San Miguel Corp. as deputy ombudsman for Luzon, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Law professor and law books author Francis Jardeleza will replace Mark Jalandoni, who resigned from his post in April after reports that administrative complaints accusing him of various offenses had been filed before the Office of the President.

Jardeleza applied for the ombudsman post vacated by Merceditas Gutierrez but did not make it to the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council to Aquino.

The four nominees to the ombudsman post forwarded to the President included former Supreme Court (SC) Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero Jr., Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento and Presidential Commission on Good Government associate commissioner Gerard Mosquera.

Jardeleza, former senior vice president and general counsel of the food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., was also applying for the posts of deputy ombudsman for Luzon and SC justice.

Based on his credentials submitted to the Palace, Jardeleza graduated from the University of the Philippines-College of Law and placed third in the 1974 bar exams. He completed his master of laws at Harvard University.

He joined Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz or Accra law office in 1975 and became a partner in 1981. He was the only junior partner allowed to be a member of both the litigation and corporate or special projects departments. In 1986, he became chairman of the Accra law litigation department.

After earning his master of laws degree at Harvard Law School, he trained in securities, litigation and public offerings as a foreign associate in the New York City law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell.

Based on an earlier Newsbreak article, Jardeleza told the JBC in an interview that he does not enjoy any political backing, nor does he belong to any political party.

He also said one of his strengths was his being roactive in litigation and that? can prepare cases thoroughly.”

Gutierrez resigned last May instead of facing Senate trial after the House of Representatives voted to impeach her on various grounds. She had been accused of protecting former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies. – With Rainier Allan Ronda, Michael Punongbayan