Camarines Sur remembers Conchita Carpio-Morales

Conchita Carpio-Morales, the newly appointed Ombudsman, was born on June 19, 1941 in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

She earned both her Bachelor's degree in Economics and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines.

Right after her graduation from the UP College of Law in 1968, she started her law career in a private Manila law firm as Assistant Attorney.

In 1971, her former law professor and then Justice Secretary Vicente Abad Santos took her as a Special Assistant at the Department of Justice - thus starting an illustrious career in government service.

A relatively obscure item in her résumé is that she started her career in the judiciary right here in Bikol. Between 1983 to 1986, Conchita Carpio-Morales was the trial court judge of Pili Camarines Sur. Within months after the EDSA Revolution of 1986, President Corazon Aquino appointed her trial court judge of Pasay City and from there she rose the ranks to become Associate Justice of the Supreme Court until her retirement just recently.

Her appointment as the new Ombudsman is widely lauded. It is also monumental in the sense that an Ombudsman with her at the helm is seen as big enough to supplant the aborted Truth Commission.

We gathered some impressions from local legal personalities who interacted with Ombudsman Carpio-Morales during her 3-year stint in Bikol. Understandably, younger lawyers do not remember her. Some senior lawyers cannot remember her at all, probably an indication that Carpio-Morales was not too high profile to remember when she was here in Bikol.

She is independent and principled at the Supreme Court.
- Atty. Sal Panelo

Very good as RTC judge of Pili, Camarines Sur, comtemporary of late Judge Vidal Nepomuceno.
- Former Kagawad Nick Awa of Iriga City

Marhay na judge sana mapersiguer nya si PGMA.
- Simeon Adan, former Kagawad of Naga City and DepEd Superintendent

Dai ko na inabotan, bako pa akong abogado kadto.
- Atty. Denden Alvina, former president IBP Camarines Sur

No negative comments in RTC Pili.
- Judge Sol Santos, MTC Iriga City

No comment ta bako pa ako judge kadto.
- Judge Lore Bagalacsa, RTC Libmanan Camarines Sur

Dae ko na inabutan pero sa orolay olay marhay daa.
- RTC Judge Junet Ayo

Lingaw ko na.
- David Naval, Retired Naga City Executive Judge, Camarines Sur Board Member, UNC Law Dean

Sexy and beautiful.
- Atty. Adan Botor, CASURECO II director, Naga City Mayoral bet

(With reports from Ernie Verdadero)