Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Friday, July 20, said the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has named three nominees in its shortlist to replace retiring Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
President Rodrigo R. Durterte is set to appoint the next Ombudsman in the JBC’s list of nominees, which included Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires, retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice G. Edilberto Sandoval, and private lawyer Felito Ramirez.
Mr. Guevarra, who sits as a JBC ex-officio member, told BusinessWorld in a text message that Mr. Martires received six votes, Mr. Sandoval got five votes, and private lawyer Felito Ramirez had four votes.
Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III was disqualified from the shortlist due to his pending cases in the Department of Justice (DoJ).
“May pending DoJ cases daw. I only came to know about it this morning,” Mr. Guevarra said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

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