Martires, Sandoval, Ramirez in JBC shortlist for next Ombudsman

Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires and retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval–INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has already come up with a shortlist of nominees to replace outgoing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Among those in the shortlist were Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires, retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval, and private practitioner Atty. Felito Ramirez, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC.

Of the seven members of the JBC, Martires got six votes; Sandoval got five while Ramirez got four, he added.

Martires, a graduate of San Beda, was the first appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Supreme Court. Prior his stint at the SC, Martires was an Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan. He also served as a Regional Trial Court Judge in Agoo, La Union.

Sandoval, on the other hand, is an expert in criminal law. He was likewise a professor, author and a Bar reviewer. Currently, Sandoval is a special prosecutor.

Meanwhile, Ramirez, also a graduate of San Beda, is a fraternity brother of the President.

The shortlist will be submitted to Mr. Duterte, who has 90 days to select the next Ombudsman. Carpio-Morales’ term is set to end on July 26.

Under Article VIII Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution, JBC screens individuals aspiring to be part of the judiciary, including the heads of the office of the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, Special Prosecutor, and the offices of the Chairperson and Regular Members of the Legal Education Board. /kga