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Ombudsman: Under the law, I'm entitled to seven-year term

August 31, 2017 | 11:10am

Ombudsman: Under the law, I'm entitled to seven-year term

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said that, under the law, she has a seven-year term. APEC/File

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Thursday maintained that she is entitled to a full seven years in office contrary to President Rodrigo Duterte's claim that she can only serve the remaining term of her predecessor who resigned in 2011.

In a chance interview with reporters on the sidelines of the 2017 Ramon Magsaysay Awards ceremony in Manila, Morales maintained that under the Ombudsman Act of 1989, the appointed successor of a previous ombudsman “shall serve for a full term”.

“We are following the law. The Ombudsman Act of 1989, Section 8, Paragraph Number 3, says that when the incumbent ombudsman leaves the office by reason of death or removal, resignation, or permanent disability, the deputy ombudsman shall be the acting ombudsman until a new ombudsman is appointed who shall serve for a full term,” Morales said.

Presidential Decree No. 1630, which created the predecessor Office of the Tanodbayan, holds similarly that "if the Office of Tanodbayan becomes vacant for any cause, the Senior Deputy Tanodbayan shall serve as Acting Tanodbayan until the Tanodbayan shall have been appointed for a full term."

Morales was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III in July 2011 shortly after her predecessor, Merceditas Gutierrez resigned on March 22, 2011 to preempt an impeachment hearing at the Senate.

Gutierrez, who assumed office on Dec. 1, 2005, served six years of a seven-year term.

Acting Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro helmed the office until Morales was appointed.

During a speech before the newly-appointed officials in the Malacañang on Tuesday, Duterte questioned Morales' stay in office, saying that she should have just served the remaining year in Gutierrez' term.

'Selective justice'

Duterte also slammed Morales over her office's supposed “selective justice” especially in handling the pork barrel scam cases. Duterte said the ombudsman is prosecuting only those perceived as enemies of the previous administration.

"It seems that the Office of the Ombudsman has mastered the art of selective justice – hard on some, soft on others...slow to act on complaints against the friendly but quick to decide against perceived hostiles," Duterte said.

Morales, a 2016 Ramon Magsaysay awardee, maintained that her office is fair in prosecuting those allegedly involved in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Morales explained that under the Ombudsman Act, her office must give priority to high-profile cases involving high-government officials and huge amount of money.

Morales said they opted to prioritize the filing of cases against then senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Juan Ponce Enrile as they are high-government officials and since “there is already testimonial claims against them” at that time made by the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

“I recall that when I was new there (in the Ombudsman), and the PDAF cases came out, Miss Napoles came out with an affidavit targeting three senators, they are senators Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla," Morales said.

"Given the fact that there is already this testimonial claim against them, mauna yan definitely (definitely we will prioritize them first), because hindi ka na maghirap maghanap ng ebidensya (you don't have to spend so much time in finding evidence), of course on top of what you gathered,” she added.