Saturday, April 30, 2011
MANILA –- The credibility of the next Ombudsman is a reflection of President Benigno Aquino III’s seriousness in the fight against corruption, bishops said Saturday.
Bishops critical of resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said they will be closely watching the developments concerning her replacement.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said they will be pleased with any step to provide credibility to the anti-graft body.
“Now is the time to watch President Benigno Aquino III’s seriousness to fight corruption. We’ll see who he is going to appoint as Ombudsman,” Pabillo said in an article posted at the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Malacanang said Saturday that the replacement of resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will be “entirely dependent” on the selection process of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
President Aquino tasked the JBC to start the selection process on the same day Gutierrez submitted her resignation. Gutierrez’s resignation will be deemed effective on May 6.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President has not mentioned any name as possible replacement of Gutierrez. “I think being the cautious person the President is, ayaw niyang mapre-empt," Valte added.
“We have to work on the search because the position of Ombudsman is vacant so are the two positions of deputy ombudsman,” she said.
The JBC in a newspaper advertisement announced the vacancy and invitation for filing of applications for the position of deputy ombudsman which Mark Jalandoni has earlier vacated. Aspirants were given until May 9 to submit their applications or recommendations.
The Ombudsman surprised several members of the legislative body and even
President Aquino after she decided to resign from her post Friday, despite her earlier statements that she will face the impeachment trial against her in the Senate.
The resignation came just 10 days before the senator-judges was supposed to formally convene as an impeachment court.
Valte said the new Ombudsman should not only meet the requirements of the job but should also join Aquino’s fight against corruption.
“Integrity should be coupled with competence to execute the duties of the job,” she added.
Valte said the new Ombudsman appointment will depend on the JBC’s immediate action on the selection process.
Meanwhile, Bishop Pabillo said Gutierrez’s resignation on Friday should not put a stop to the process to make the Ombudsman accountable for her alleged misdeeds.
“She’s playing brinkmanship. We should continue to make her accountable,” said Pabillo, who chairs the CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace.
On the other hand, Iñiguez said that the besieged Ombudsman made a wise decision, after all, he said, “the truth will always come out.”
Militant lawyers believed otherwise.
Edre Olalia, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), maintained that Gutierrez’s impending departure was not an act of sacrifice.
“This is hardly a graceful exit when public opinion is heavily against her, and she has desisted from one of the legal venues to decide the case on its merits,” referring to the aborted impeachment trial at the Senate this May.
The bishops called on Aquino to appoint someone who will not be cowed to prosecute corrupt officials, primarily the reason behind the House of Representatives’ move to oust Gutierrez before her term’s expiration in December 2012.
“This is really a test for Aquino if he can appoint someone who will go against former President Gloria Arroyo and other corrupt officials,” activist priest Fr. Joe Dizon of Solidarity Philippines said.
Effective May 6, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro will temporarily take the helm of the 23-year-old agency.