Ombudsman bid of Duterte's ex-lawyer Batacan opposed by Topacio

The application for the Ombudsman post of lawyer Edna Herrera-Batacan, a former counsel of President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing opposition from an attorney with whom she had shared a common high-profile client.

In a letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), lawyer Ferdinand Topacio asserted his "vigorous opposition" to the candidacy of Batacan for the top graft-buster post "based purely on issues of integrity and probity."

Topacio alleged that Batacan asked and was given by a client P8 million, an amount that was supposedly requested by "certain persons in the Ombudsman" in exchange for the dismissal of the charges against the unnamed client.

But the case was still filed and Batacan has not refunded the money, Topacio alleged.

Batacan also allegedly tried to charge the client P1 million in photocopying expenses in connection with the unidentified case, but "was unable to support such demand for reimbursement."

Batacan was asked about the opposition last week, during the public panel interview for aspirants to the Ombudsman post, though the copy of the letter was obtained only on Thursday.

In her response, Batacan dropped the name of former First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo, who had also been a client of Topacio.

Batacan said she withdrew from the case — likely over the controversial NBN-ZTE deal then before the Sandiganbayan — for "personal reasons."

On the alleged photocopying issue, she said: "And then Attorney Topacio was saying...according to his client, I asked how much? And then I asked for xeroxing of documents? The documents were so high. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. Probably, but I don't know. I don't remember, it was too long already."

During the interview, Batacan repeatedly called the Office of the Ombudsman a "graft[-ridden]" office.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has said Batacan to his mind would be the frontrunner in the screening body's shortlist to be submitted to Duterte.

Duterte will be the appointing president of the successor of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who retires on July 26. —JST, GMA News