Lawyers’ group wary of Ombudsman aspirant’s independence

A lawyers’ group has expressed concern over Malacañang’s admission that a former counsel of President Rodrigo Duterte is a front-runner to replace retiring Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) said lawyer Edna Herrera Batacan’s emergence as one of the strong candidates to be the country’s next top graft buster “invites a lot of questions and concerns” on the issue of the aspirant’s independence.

Ties that bind

“Close professional, political and personal ties to the appointing power or any of its own circle and network undermine the trust and confidence in the credibility in the system of accountability and justice. Will the ties that bind not stand in the way?” said lawyer Edre Olalia, NUPL president.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday he believed Batacan was a “front-runner” who enjoyed the trust and confidence of the President.

A former Ombudsman prosecutor, Batacan, 65, represented the President when he was mayor of Davao City, and also acts as defense lawyer for the President’s son, former Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

Such ties do not bode well for the country’s top graft buster, Olalia said.