By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday sent a shortlist of seven nominees to Malacañang from which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will choose the next Ombudsman.
In a letter dated Oct. 6 and signed by Acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Marvic Leonen, the nominees, in alphabetical order, are Philippine Competition Commission chairperson Michael Aguinaldo; retired Court of Appeals Justice Stephen Cruz; Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan; Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Anna Liza Logan; retired SC justice Mario Lopez; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi; and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
The new Ombudsman will take over the post vacated by Samuel Martires whose term expired last July 27.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the Ombudsman as an official critic who studies the laws, procedures and practices in government; ensures that the steady flow of services is accorded the citizens; and a watchdog who looks at the general and specific performance of all government officials and employees.
The Ombudsman has a fixed term of seven years, and could only be removed from office by way of impeachment.
The appointments of Ombudsman and its Deputies require no Congressional confirmation. (PNA)
