Aquino names new deputy Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino has appointed Francis Jardeleza, a former senior vice president and general counsel of the food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp., as deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Jardeleza replaces Mark Jalandoni, who resigned in April.

According to a profile provided by Malacañang, Jardeleza was also former chair of the litigation department of the Accra law firm and head of the litigation and labor law group of the Roco Bunag Kapunan Migallos and Jardeleza law office.

The new deputy Ombudsman has a master’s degree in law from Harvard University.

He graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1974. He placed third overall with a general average of 88.35 percent when he took that year’s bar examinations.

Jardeleza graduated with a Political Science degree from UP Iloilo in 1969.

He was San Miguel SVP and general counsel from 1996 until June 30, 2010 when he opted for early retirement.

Jardeleza, according to the papers provided by Malacañang, was also involved in pro bono work, such as the one when he secured a Supreme Court injunction to lift a hold departure order against journalist Maritess Vitug in 1994.