Puno declines Ombudsman post

MANILA, Philippines - Former chief justice Reynato Puno has declined his nomination for the Ombudsman post, saying he has already committed himself to certain projects, especially church work.

Puno and retiring Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales were among those nominated for Ombudsman but the former chief magistrate, who was nominated by a certain Suzette Curioso-Pangan from his Station Church Site group, has shown no interest.

The STAR learned that President Aquino offered the Ombudsman post to Puno even before Merceditas Gutierrez resigned last May 6, but the retired magistrate declined the offer.

Morales, who was chosen by the President to administer his oath of office last year, was nominated by Judge Dolores Español. She has yet to send the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) her reply.

Two more bets were added to the initial list of JBC from where the next Ombudsman will be chosen as the period for nomination and application for the post closed yesterday.

De La Salle University-College of Law Dean Jose Manuel Diokno and public interest lawyer Marlon Manuel were nominated to replace Gutierrez, and both accepted the endorsement.

Diokno is son of the late human rights icon Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno. His nomination came from the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), the human rights group his father founded during the dictatorial rule of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and which he now chairs.

“With his characteristic quiet dedication, high competence and manifest passion, he handled and oversaw cases involving the poor and disadvantaged who have comprised FLAG’s main clientele and its reason for being,” said the letter-recommendation written by FLAG members Pablito Sanidad and Theodore Te.

FLAG cited Diokno’s skill, competence, and integrity which make him the best choice as the replacement of Gutierrez, who was accused of inaction on several high-profile corruption cases that hounded the Arroyo administration.

“We are confident that, at this time when the level of trust in the Office of the Ombudsman is extremely low, Attorney Diokno will restore that trust not just through ringing speeches but through the same hard work, passionate leadership, principled advocacy and exemplary service that has marked his life and career,” said the group.

They added that the 50-year-old lawyer’s public record is “unstained” and “untainted by any hint of corruption or irregularity.”

Manuel, on the other hand, was nominated by former elections chair Christian Monsod and former agrarian reform undersecretary Hector Soliman, who cited his experience in litigation and “passion for justice.”

“Marlon has honed his skills over the years in the area of litigation, having appeared in all levels of judicial and quasi-judicial tribunals, including the Supreme Court. He combines practical skills in the courtroom with his academic knowledge as a professor of constitutional law,” said Soliman.

Manuel’s nomination was supported by over 20 civil society organizations and other private individuals, who all sent their respective endorsement letters to the JBC.

Manuel is the head of Alternative Law Groups (ALG) and also teaches at the Ateneo and UST law schools.

Threading the needle

The JBC has received at least 20 names during the 10-day nomination and application process. The council’s secretariat, however, did not issue the initial list and said the names of official candidates would be published after receiving conformities from all nominees.

Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra, acting chief of the Supreme Court’s public information office, said the eight-man council would start soliciting conformity of nominees to the post through a letter asking whether they would accept or decline their nomination.

“It will be after all conformes are received that the names will be made public,” she explained.

Guerra likewise explained that the JBC would discuss in its meeting on Monday next week whether to grant a request for the extension of application period for the post made by Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN).

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro was also endorsed as replacement of his former boss by El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde.

Also in the list are former solicitor general Francisco Chavez, former ambassador Roy Señeres, former justice secretary Artemio Tuquero, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol and Ombudsman prosecutor Wilbert Candelaria, crusading lawyer Ernesto Francisco, Court of Appeals Executive Justice for the Visayas Portia Alino-Hormachuelos, human rights lawyers Harry Roque and Arno Sanidad, law professor Francis Jardeleza, Judge Amelia Infante, lawyers Alfredo Agawa, Pedro Aquino, Hubert Guevarra and Florencio Villarin.

Secretary Leila de Lima was earlier nominated to the post, but she immediately declined, saying she preferred to stay in the Department of Justice.

Republic Act 6770 (Ombudsman law) requires the Ombudsman to be a “natural born citizen of the Philippines, at least 40 years old, of recognized probity and independence, member of the Philippine Bar, and must not have been a candidate for any elective national or local office in the immediately preceding election whether regular or special.”

The Ombudsman, who has a fixed term of seven years, must also have at least 10 years’ experience as a judge or law practitioner in the Philippines.