Next ombudsman must be fiercely independent

The next ombudsman must not be easily influenced by any person or organization, an advocacy group urged the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and President Marcos.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

"A competent ombudsman, fiercely independent, with unquestionable integrity, immune from partisan politics and possessed of the courage to take on the most difficult and complex cases — this is our crying need, our fervent want, our desperate common prayer," Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition said in a press statement.

The group, which advocates for transparency in the government, issued the statement as the JBC is currently in the process of screening 17 applicants vying for the ombudsman post vacated by Samuel Martires after the end of his seven-year term last July 27.

Under the Revised JBC Rules, vacancy for the ombudsman post shall be filled within three months from its occurrence.

An ombudsman must be appointed by the President from a shortlist of at least three nominees to be submitted by the JBC. An ombudsman shall serve for a term of seven years without reappointment.