No Mindanao ombudsman yet after 90-day deadline

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/5 Oct) — President Arroyo has not yet named a
new ombudsman for Mindanao, 90 days after the post was declared
vacant, the Ombudsman Mindanao spokesperson said.

“There is still no appointment. We are still awaiting the President’s
decision,” lawyer Marco Buena told MindaNews Thursday.

The post was vacated when Ombudsman Antonio Valenzuela retired on July
4. With the 90-day period mandated for the appointment of a
replacement, the new ombudsman should have been named on Oct. 2.

Buena did not discount political movements in Manila amid a decision
of Tanodbayan Merciditas Gutierrez to revert a Supreme Court decision
on a case against Commission on Elections officials.

“But the rule is only directorate and Malacañang might have leeway to
appoint beyond the period,” he said.

Buena noted that another point of reference on the start of the 90-day
period is from the day the short list of candidates was submitted to
President Arroyo. (Read story here).

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