Ombudsman bets down to 4

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday submitted a list of four names from which President Benigno Aquino III would choose the replacement of resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

The nominees are former Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, Justice Undersecretary Leah Armamento, former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero and Presidential Commission on Good Government Commissioner Gerard Mosquera, according to Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez.

Each of the nominees received five votes from the eight-member JBC headed by Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“There was a long deliberation and all those who vied for the post underwent interviews and psychological tests. We also considered the opposition to their nominations. At the end of the day, it was subject to the discretion of each member of the JBC,” said Sen. Francis Escudero, an ex-officio member of the council.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, also an ex-officio JBC member, told reporters that she cast her vote for Carpio-Morales.

Carpio-Morales became known to the public last year when President Aquino chose her to administer his oath of office when he officially took over from the former President, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.