Gutierrez is new Tanodbayan 30 November 2005—Presidential Legal Counsel Merceditas Gutierrez was named Ombudsman today, garnering all eight votes from the 8-member Judicial Bar Council (JBC). Her nomination was announced in light of TAN’s efforts to extend the deadline for submission of applications. In a letter dated Nov.9, TAN recognizes the urgency to fill the vacancy but sees the need to slow down the process and make it more deliberate, inclusive and transparent. In the case of former Omb. Aniano Desierto, there was enough lead time for the selection of his successor as he finished his seven-year term. TAN noted that for the 2002 search process, as many as forty (40) names were received by the JBC. For this year’s selection process, there were only fifteen (15) applications. Gutierrez brings thirty years of government service, including twenty-one in the Department of Justice. She assumes the post of Marcelo effective December 1.
To view information on the applicants visit Part 1 and Part 2 of the bio data of candidates.  TAN to launch OMB WATCH 2005 25 October 2005—On 30 September 2005, Ombudsman Simeon V. Marcelo tendered his irrevocable resignation to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo citing health reasons. This piece of news saddened civil society, as Ombudsman Marcelo had become their shining beacon of anti-corruption within the government. Over the past years, anticorruption efforts have been strengthened due to Marcelo’s support. It was he who initiated contact with civil society to encourage them to work with the government in the fight against corruption. His work, particularly in the Lifestyle Check and Procurement projects, had been silent yet effective. Various government officials and staff had been investigated for acts of graft and corruption and, when the situation warranted, dismissed. There have been more complaints on officials and staff resolved in the few years that Marcelo was Ombudsman than in any other term. His resignation, effective November 30 of this year, is definitely a loss, particularly for civil society groups and non-government organizations that have been advocating for transparency and accountability in the public sector. In July 2002, the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) launched the Ombudsman Watch project with the objective of increasing transparency and accountability of the appointment process involving the Ombudsman. The campaign for transparency was successful and resulted in the adoption of public interviews of candidates for the relevant position in the Judicial and Bar Council rules. Moreover, it resulted in the appointment of a credible, independent and a person of integrity for the Ombudsman position - Simeon Marcelo. Although the president is given 90 days from the day of the vacancy, the search for the next Ombudsman has already begun. Last October 3, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) published requests for application for the position of Ombudsman, setting an October 15 deadline for submission. On October 17, the JBC announced the official list of candidates for the position of Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines. This announcement was published on The Philippine Star the next day, with the invitation for the public to submit comments on any or all of the candidates, derogatory or otherwise. The public has until November 4 to respond to this invitation. It is in light of these events that TAN once again launches Ombudsman Watch 2005, a project in which civil society groups and non-government organizations will advocate strongly for transparency, accountability, and participation in the Ombudsman selection process. The main goal of this project is to increase public awareness of and generate involvement in the appointment process for the next Ombudsman, as well as the activities surrounding such appointment. Consistent with the foregoing, the following are the specific objectives of the project:
To meet these objectives, this project embarks on activities that will promote transparency and accountability in the selection process, and at the same time, encourage the participation of civil society and the general public in the process by taking a good hard look on the candidates.
As the lead government agency in the fight against corruption, the Ombudsman’s position is of critical importance. And choosing the right Ombudsman can spell the difference between success and failure in combating corruption. Therefore, close monitoring of the appointment process by civil society groups is an imperative, specifically in ensuring the transparency and accountability of the process. |
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