While President Benigno Aquino III has yet to make his choice, Tanodbayan Conchita Carpio-Morales designated an acting Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas.
In a memorandum dated Aug. 22, Morales ordered Rodolfo Elman, Deputy Ombudsman in Mindanao, to also assume the position left by retired Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol in an acting capacity.
“Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo Elman is hereby designated in a concurrent capacity as acting Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas with full powers effective immediately until a duly appointed Ombudsman for the Visayas assumes office,” the memorandum read.
Elman has yet to report to the anti-graft office based in Cebu City since Morales issued the order.
“We have not received any communication yet as to when he (Elman) will personally come here,” said an officer of the Ombudsman Visayas’ Human Resource Department who requested anonymity.
She said Elman will still be based in Mindanao but will report to the Ombudsman Visayas once in a while. Last Wednesday, Pelagio Apostol ended his seven-year term as Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas.
Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the president has 90 days to choose who will become the next Deputy Ombudsman in the Visayas based on the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
The JBC released last week the short list of candidates for the position of Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas. Three of the five candidates for the position are from Cebu.
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