CEBU CITY, Philippines—President Aquino has appointed lawyer Paul Elmer Clemente as the new chief of the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.
Clad in signature coat and tie, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Clemente assumed his post on Nov. 11, reminding employees and officers of the antigraft office to serve the people with utmost dedication.
Clemente, a native of Butuan City, arrived at the antigraft office in Cebu City around 8 a.m.
He was welcomed by employees and antigraft investigators, who toured him inside the different offices, while some took photographs of the new Ombudsman chief in the Visayas.
Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman, who served as acting deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas for three months following the retirement of Pelagio Apostol, handed over the seal of the antigraft office to Clemente.
Clemente, 45, became the fifth deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, which has a term of seven years.
In his message during the turnover ceremony at the Ombudsman Visayas’ conference room, Clemente urged antigraft investigators and employees to help him improve the services of the antigraft office toward responsive and relevant public assistance.
“We have to preach the gospel of good governance. I want you to do your best in everything you do. We have to make sure that all of us will contribute to the good of the nation,” he said.
“Please cooperate with me because I will rely on you in our goal of serving the people,” he added.
Clemente served as Ombudsman director before he joined the Register of Deeds in Manila.