De Lima not interested in Ombudsman post

MANILA, Philippines—No thank you.

Thus spoke Justice Secretary Leila De Lima when queried about the possibility of her becoming the next Ombudsman.

She explained that she has been with the Department of Justice (DoJ) for barely a year, and is still grappling with the myriad challenges in her department.

“Less than a year pa lang ako dito. Marami pang challenges dito (I’ve only been here less than a year. There are still many challenges here),” she told reporters. “I feel it will be fulfilling for me here, and the DoJ’s mandate is broader [than that of the Ombudsman] because here it is any and all violations of the law,” De Lima elaborated.

Even if nominated, the Justice Secretary, who has a reputation for hard work and outspokenness, said she will decline any nomination for the position.

De Lima suggested that the Secretary of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) already open the submission of nominations to the Ombudsman post.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’ resignation will be effective on May 6.

The Constitution tasks the JBC to screen applicants, not only for key positions in the Judiciary, but for the Office of the Ombudsman as well.

De Lima said the JBC agreed with her that the next Ombudsman shall serve a full-seven year term as stated under Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

She added that the counting of the term of the next Ombudsman shall start also from the appointment, not from the date when the position became vacant.