The Liberal Party (LP) has expressed disapproval to lawyer Edna Batacan’s bid to become the next Ombudsman.
In a statement on Wednesday, the LP said Batacan “does not fit the description” of the government post.
“As the office entrusted by the people to investigate and prosecute government official accused of wrongdoings, especially graft and corruption, the Ombudsman post must be a paragon of probity, honesty, and ethical conduct,” the LP said.
“Atty. Batacan does not fit the description,” the opposition party added, quoting Article XI Section 8 of the Constitution that specifies the Ombudsman should be of “recognized probity and independence.”
“The consequences to good governance and to the people are dire if we will have an Ombudsman who cannot be trusted,” the LP noted.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio earlier asked the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to exclude Batacan from the shortlist of nominees for the post.
He accused Batacan of charging a “mutual client” some P8 million to “arrange” the dismissal of a complaint then pending in the Office of the Ombudsman. He said Batacan failed to refund the money when efforts to fix the case failed.
READ: Lawyer opposes Batacan bid for Ombudsman
Batacan is seeking to replace current Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales who will retire on July 26. She was a former lawyer of President Rodrigo Duterte and was reportedly the “frontrunner” for the position, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
Batacan already responded to her oppositors during her public interview with members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). She said she withdrew as counsel for the former first gentleman.
On the accusations of Topacio, she said “…and then Atty. Topacio was saying…according to his client, I asked how much? Then I asked for zeroxing documents? The documents were so high. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t remember, it was too long already.”
She also said during the interview that she wants to become the next Ombudsman to change the office, which she said has become “graft-ridden.” /ee
READ: Duterte’s former lawyer front-runner for Ombudsman post, says Roque