Judiciary experience ‘fully qualify’ De Castro as next Ombudsman – former justice

A retired justice of the Supreme Court (SC) believes that Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro is more than qualified to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Retired Associate Justice Arturo Brion nominated De Castro to the Ombudsman post and said in his letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) that “her long years in the prosecutorial service and in the Sandiganbayan, not to mention her more than a decade of experience as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, fully qualify her for the position of Ombudsman.”

De Castro rose from the ranks as a law clerk, legal, and judicial assistant in the SC from 1973 to 1978 before moving to the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a State Counsel. Prior her appointment at Sandiganbayan, De Castro was designated as one of the international and peace negotiators under Presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos from 1998 to 1997.

She is currently the head of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA).

“I hope that this nomination shall merit the Honorable Council’s consideration, approval and the inclusion of Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro as one of the Council’s nominees for appointment to the position of Ombudsman,” Brion said.

JBC is mandated by law to screen applicants to the Judiciary, including nominees for vacancies in the Office of the Ombudsman – Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, and Special Prosecutor.

The JBC draws a shortlist of candidates which will then be submitted to the President, who would have three months from the time the position became vacant to choose a replacement.

Morales’ term as Ombudsman will end on July 26, 2018, while De Castro will retire from the SC on October 8, 2018.

A check from the JBC showed that De Castro has yet to submit a “conforme” to Brion’s nomination. A conforme or acceptance of nomination is a requirement of the JBC.  /kga