JBC interviews Carpio-Morales on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - The retired Supreme Court (SC) justice reportedly being favored by President Aquino as the next ombudsman will face the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) today.

Conchita Carpio-Morales is expected to appear before the eight-man JBC to answer all the questions raised by six personalities opposing her possible appointment.

Among those who opposed her nomination for the post are former President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo, former justice secretary Raul Gonzalez, former ombudsman Aniano Desierto and lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

Morales was said to have been personally favored by Aquino to succeed Merceditas Gutierrez who resigned as Ombudsman last May 6.

Aquino chose Carpio-Morales to administer his inaugural oath on June 30 last year instead of the chief justice.

Arroyo, now representing the second congressional district of Pampanga, filed her opposition to the inclusion of Carpio-Morales as candidate for the next ombudsman.

She said Carpio-Morales would not be independent enough to handle possible corruption cases against her, her family and former officials considering the retired justice’s supposedly consistent stand against policies of her administration.

Desierto, on the other hand, pointed out Carpio-Morales would no longer be fit for the job because of her age. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago shared this view.

Lawyer Delfin Catapang Jr. filed his objection to the nomination of Carpio-Morales complaining that the lady magistrate denied him of P200,000 in attorney’s fees in representing a case.

Carpio-Morales will be the last to face JBC among the five candidates set for interview today. The others are lawyer Emmanuel Bonoan, former justice undersecretary Jose Calida, lawyers Howard Calleja and Felix Carao Jr.

Five nominees have already faced the JBC during the start of public interviews for the ombudsman post yesterday.

They were judge Alfredo Agawa, Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Pelagio Apostol, Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento and lawyer Procopio Beltran Jr.

On June 27, acting Ombudsman and Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, former solicitor general Francisco Chavez, De La Salle law dean and Free Legal Assistance Group chair Jose Manuel Diokno, lawyers Donato Faylona and Ernesto Francisco Jr. and judge Philip Aguinaldo will have their turn.

They would be followed by lawyers Raymundo Francisco, Catalino Generillo Jr., Francis Jardeleza, Court of Appeals Justice Portia Hormachuelos, judge Amelia Infante, and Alternative Law Group leader Marlon Manuel on June 28.

Finally, the JBC will interview Gerard Mosquera, judge Divinagracia Ongkeko, lawyer Renan Ramos, former ambassador and National Labor Relations Commission chair Roy Señeres, former JBC member Artemio Tuquero and Florencio Villarin on June 29.

The law, Republic Act 6770, requires the Ombudsman to be natural born citizen of the Philippines, at least 40 years old, 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 has a fixed term of seven years and must also have at least 10 years experience as a judge or law practitioner.

Deliberations of the JBC, however, are expected to focus on more crucial criterion provided in the law - that the Ombudsman to be appointed by the President should have “recognized probity and independence” from political influence - especially of the appointing authority.

The JBC already announced earlier that it would be ready on July 4 with the shortlist from where President Aquino will handpick the replacement of Gutierrez.

The President has until Aug. 6 to make the appointment.

In a related development, the JBC on Tuesday came up with its shortlist of four final nominees for the position vacated by the resignation last April of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni.

Graft Investigator Roque Dator and Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Associate Commissioner Gerard Mosquera topped the list after getting approval of all eight members of JBC.

Completing the shortlist is law books author Jardeleza and Iloilo lawyer Vicente Gengos with seven and five votes, respectively.

Dator, is a former seminarian reportedly supported by the Catholic Church, while Mosquera is a former assistant ombudsman who is supported by former ombudsman Simeon Marcelo.

Jardeleza, on the other hand, had worked with business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco.