New ombudsman to be known next week

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna ,Philippines  - President Aquino promised yesterday to reveal his choice for the next ombudsman before his second State of the Nation Address on July 25.

“By next week, I will tell you,” Aquino told reporters here, where he turned over to soldiers and policemen affordable housing units. The new ombudsman will succeed Merceditas Gutierrez who resigned amid accusation of sitting on cases against Arroyo officials.

The President admitted screening two candidates for the position, but did not name the two. The four nominees shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council are retired Supreme Court justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, former justice secretary Artemio Tuquero, Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento and Presidential Commission on Good Government commissioner Gerard Mosquera.

Aquino denied there is a deadline for the filing of charges against officials of the previous administration involved in unlawful transactions.

“They would take as much time as they need,” he said, referring to government prosecutors. He said prosecutors should ensure cases are airtight.

“Don’t forget, this is not a game of ‘wait for the next episode.’ If cases are filed, it’s our responsibility to make sure they are reasonable, fair, and a sure win. Our goal is not just filing cases, but conviction,” Aquino said in Filipino.

“So they will take as much time as they need to be able to bring about the stated objective. It will take a month, take a week, I’m sure they are expediting the process,” he said.

“We have the necessary personnel in place already in a multi-sectoral view that we can have a very reasonable chance that the cases will be judged on their merits,” Aquino said.

Earlier, in a speech before officials and members of the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches in Clark, Pampanga, Aquino declared he is in the “final chapter” of his crusade against corruption.