JBC concludes Ombudsman interviews; Bets vow not to weaponize position

As the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) concluded its public interviews for the position of Ombudsman, the last batch of applicants on Tuesday vowed that the Tanodbayan's office would not be used as a weapon.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said during the interview that he believes that “too much politics” are taking place in the office.

“One thing I intend to do is to do away with the Ombudsman, the Office of the Ombudsman, used as a weapon against people,” he told the JBC.

“Too many cases filed, in-partisan politics, which some [are] meritorious and some are not very meritorious. And I think we have to do away with many of these that are really meant there to harass people,” he added.

Remulla stressed that the Ombudsman should “never be weaponized.”

Following his public interview, Senator Imee Marcos said she will oppose his application, claiming that Remulla seeks to imprison her and other allies of the Duterte family.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Remulla and will publish his response once available.

Meanwhile, when asked about the role of the Ombudsman in preventing ghost projects, the Justice Secretary proposed an information campaign and collaboration with the public.

“Go around the country or to gather people… and tell them to study these rules properly, and of course, open the lines to the public so that we can be apprised of what is happening. There’s nothing like the concerned public telling the Ombudsman that there’s something going wrong,” he said.

The Justice secretary also said he is also open to making the disclosure of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) more accessible but with safeguards.

In his public interview, Daraga Municipal Trial Court Presiding Judge Jason Rodenas also vowed independence.

He was questioned by the JBC on being an alleged in-house lawyer for a lawmaker in his business with Sunwest, one of the top 15 contractors named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Rodenas assured that there will be “no conflict of interest.”

“If luckily I will be appointed there, I said a while ago that I am performing there not on my personal capacity but on the Office of the Ombudsman,” he said.

When asked about his stand on the disclosure of SALNs, Rodenas said he will recalibrate the memorandum restricting the access to the document.

He said he is also open to conducting lifestyle checks for relatives of public officials, adding that this is already incorporated in the law.

Meanwhile, former Regional Trial Court Judge Benjamin Turgano stressed the importance of the impartiality of the Ombudsman.

“We cannot really be apolitical completely. But we should be able to define the lines that politics has nothing to do — or political influence should not interfere in the functions of the Ombudsman,” he said.

In an interview with the media, Turgano said the Ombudsman must follow the rule of law when asked how he can ensure his independence, if appointed.

“No matter who is affected, regardless of who is affected, how powerful they are, it doesn’t matter. But the law has to be honored and respected,” he said.

Turgano expressed support in the disclosure of SALNs, saying that they are effective mechanisms of transparency. However, he said that though he supports lifestyle checks, he said a framework must be crafted to ensure that this is not abused.

Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) chairperson Felix Reyes said he will revisit the restriction on SALNs and will make it more accessible to the public, but only for those with legitimate purpose.

He also said he agrees with the conduct of lifestyle checks.

Applicants

The interviews by the JBC were conducted from August 28, Thursday to September 2, Tuesday.

The other applicants are Philippine Competition Commission chairperson Michael Aguinaldo, Interior Undersecretary Romeo Benitez, lawyer Jonie Caroche-Vestido, Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Bautista Corpin Jr., former CA Associate Justice Stephen Cruz, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Beda Epres, Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares , Office of the President Deputy Executive Sec. for Legal Affairs Anna Logan, retired SC Associate Justice Mario Lopez , former PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi.

The appointed official will replace former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, whose term expired on July 27. They will serve a fixed term of seven years without reappointment.

The Office of the Ombudsman handles the complaints filed against high-ranking government officials and those occupying supervisory positions, complaints involving grave offenses as well as complaints involving large sums of money and/or properties. — BAP, GMA Integrated News