PNoy appoints new deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao 

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed an assistant Ombudsman as the new Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao.

Choosing from a short list of five candidates for the vacant post, Aquino picked assistant Ombudsman Rodolfo Elman, according Jose Mejia, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council.

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and select nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.

Elman will be taking over the post vacated by Humphrey Montesoro who retired on December 4 last year.

Elman bested other nominees for the post, including Rowena Apao-Adlawan, Ombudsman Director Maria Iluminada Lapid-Viva, Romeo Alcantara and Melinda Alconcel-Dayanghirang.

Elman had received five votes from the JBC, which is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and has ex-officio members Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.

The regular members are Mejia, Aurora Santiago-Lagman, and Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa.

The JBC is also currently screening applicants for another Ombudsman post, the one vacated by Deputy Ombudsman for the Military Emilio Gonzalez III, who recently retired. — Mark Merueñas /LBG, GMA News