17 submit applications for Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 17 legal professionals, including incumbent and retired justices of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Sandiganbayan as well as top government officials aspiring to be the next ombudsman have submitted their applications to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Based on the list furnished by the JBC to the Office of the Ombudsman, among those vying for the post are Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, SC Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, retired SC Associate Justice Mario Lopez, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi.

Other magistrates applying for the post are Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Bautista Gler Corpin Jr., retired CA Associate Justice and incumbent Philippine Postal Corp. chairman Stephen Cruz, Daraga, Albay Municipal Trial Court Judge Jason Rodenas and retired Laoag City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Benjamin Turgano.

Also among the applicants are former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, former Commission on Audit chairman and incumbent Philippine Competition Commission chairman Michael Aguinaldo, Commission on Human Rights commissioner Beda Epres, Deputy Executive Secretary Lisa Logan, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs Romeo Benitez, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chairman and retired Marikina RTC Judge Felix Reyes, PDP Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag and Jonie Caroche, a member of the Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.

The applicants are scheduled to undergo public panel interviews by the JBC on July 30 and 31 and on Aug. 1 and 4.

The successful applicant will replace Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who is set to end his seven-year term on July 27. Under the Revised JBC Rules, vacancy for the ombudsman post shall be filled within three months from its occurrence.