Conchita Carpio-Morales is new Ombudsman

MANILA Philippines (July 26, 2011) - President Benigno C. Aquino III decided that his State of the Nation Address (SONA) was the opportune time to announce his choice for the new Ombudsman.

Midway through his speech, the President revealed a newly discovered anomaly at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) involving questionable expenditure for coffee served to PAGCOR's customers in its 12 branches during the past administration amounting to 1 billion pesos.

Winding up this reveleation, Aquino said, "Pagpasok ng bagong Ombudsman na si dating Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, magkakaroon tayo ng Tanodbayan na hindi Tanodbayad ng mga nag wawang-wang sa pamahalaan."

The President's announcement was briefly interrupted by applause and cheers from the appreciative audience at the Batasang Pambansa session hall.

Aquino continued by saying he expects that within this year, many cases shall be filed against people who conspired to commit graft and corruption.

He also pledged not to file half-baked cases.

"Tapos na rin po ang panahon na kung saan nagsasampa ang gobyerno ng malalabnaw na kaso. Kapag tayo ang nagsampa, matibay ang ebidensya, malinaw ang testimonya at siguradong walang lusot ang salarin," said Aquino.

Morales will take over the post vacated by resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Gutierrez resigned the Office of the Ombudsman in the height of complaints against her for the alleged questionable decisions in graft cases involving former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Malacañang expects the newly-appointed Ombudsman, former Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales to go hard on the corrupt government officials and aggressively pursue the cases against them.

"We have consistently emphasized the need to have an Ombudsman who shall act for and in the interest of the Filipino people, one who shall not let Garcias and Bolantes go scot free without answering to the people," a Palace statement said.

Former military comptroller Carlos Garcia and ex-Agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn "Jocjoc" Bolante have been sued before the Office of the Ombudsman.

However, the graft charges against them were watered down during the time Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who resigned amid the complaints against for allegedly mishandling the two government officials' cases.

Malacañang also said the President appointed Carpio because of her "integrity" and impartiality".

"An Ombudsman must be independent, one of unquestionable integrity, and willing to face the rigorous task of restoring faith in our recovering institutions by ensuring that the corrupt are held accountable for their misdeeds.

"Guided by these, President Aquino has appointed Conchita Carpio-Morales as the new Ombudsman. A native of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, she brings with her 42 years of solid legal experience in the executive and judiciary, with special interests in anti-corruption and human rights. Her integrity and impartiality are evident from her years as Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court," the Palace said. (From philstar.com, Vox Bikol)