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JBC shortlists 3 candidates for Ombudsman, disqualifies Bello

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ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1428937" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> - The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Friday released its shortlist of 3 candidates to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who will retire next week.</p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to choose from the list, which includes Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires, Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval and lawyer Felito Ramirez.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Source: JBC shortlists SC Associate Justice Samuel Martires, Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval, Atty. Felito Ramirez for Ombudsman post. Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello disqualified.</p>— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) <a href="https://twitter.com/InaReformina/status/1020144719672721410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script><p>Martires got all 6 votes from the JBC, Sandoval got 5, while Ramirez had 4, a document from the council showed.</p><p>Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was disqualified from the shortlist because of an alleged syndicated estafa case pending at the Department of Justice, Secretary Menardo Guevarra said.</p><p>The department is verifying this information, said Guevarra.</p><p>Before the JBC vote, an advocacy group called for Bello&#x27;s resignation over his alleged involvement in an extortion attempt. The labor chief denied the claim and dismissed it as part of a smear campaign.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/16/18/labor-chief-urged-to-resign-over-alleged-corruption">Labor chief urged to resign over alleged corruption</a></li></ul><div><strong>FIRST APPOINTEE</strong></div><p>Eleven SC justices earlier voted that Martires, President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s first appointee to the High Court, be endorsed to the JBC, the body tasked to screen applicants for the post, as Morales&#x27; replacement. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/17/18/sc-recommends-justice-martires-for-ombudsman-post">SC recommends Justice Martires for Ombudsman post</a></li></ul><p>If Martires is appointed Ombudsman, the President can choose another to take his place at the Supreme Court. </p><p>Martires, 69, served as trial court judge in Agoo, La Union prior to his appointment to the Sandiganbayan on October 15, 2005 by then President Gloria Arroyo.</p><p>Martires was among Sandiganbayan justices that handed down the decision approving the plea bargain deal entered into by alleged plunderer retired Major General Carlos Garcia and the Office of the Ombudsman.</p><p>In 2011, Martires also wrote the Sandiganbayan decision that junked graft charges against then Davao City Mayor Duterte over the demolition of a park built by his political rival.</p><p>He also voted to grant the Office of the Solicitor General’s ouster case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.<br/> </p><div><strong>FORMER SANDIGAN PRESIDING JUDGE, FRAT BROD </strong></div><p>Sandoval, another nominee on the shortlist, was Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan before his appointment to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.</p><p>He was appointed to the OSP in July last year and has been overseeing various cases filed at the Sandiganbayan.</p><p>During his interview before the JBC, he said conviction rate has increased since he joined the Office of the Ombudsman in July 2017.</p><p>&quot;We have increased the rate of conviction. I conducted seminars of newly-appointed assistant special prosecutors to hone their skills in the successful prosecution of cases. We told them to have a good, direct cross-examination, and from January 2018 up to May, we have consistently increased the rate of conviction,&quot; Sandoval told the JBC.</p><p>&quot;I think in January we had only 56 percent, then in February we had about 60 [percent], March we have about 80 [percent] and then April it was reduced to about 60 [percent], but then in May, we had 72.56 percent conviction.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/21/18/watch-special-prosecutor-sandoval-vies-for-ombudsman-post">WATCH: Special Prosecutor Sandoval vies for Ombudsman post</a></li></ul><p>The final nominee, Ramirez, is a lawyer and member of Lex Talionis, Duterte&#x27;s fraternity at the San Beda College. </p><p>He earlier said he applied for the position of Ombudsman due to the prodding of his friends who told him that &quot;some people will be endorsing.&quot; </p><p>He said it was only a coincidence that many aspirants for the position were from the President&#x27;s alma mater. </p><p>He said he could not apply for another judicial position because he was already past retirement age. </p><p>Asked what sets him apart from the other aspirants, he said he has handled many cases before the Court of Appeals and the Ombudsman. </p><p>&quot;I am prepared to handle this position,&quot; he said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/06/20/18/watch-duterte-frat-brother-eyes-ombudsman-post">WATCH: Duterte frat brother eyes Ombudsman post</a></li></ul><div><strong>- Report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News</strong></div>

<p>The Judicial and Bar Council on Friday released its shortlist of 3 candidates to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who will retire next week.</p>

The Judicial and Bar Council on Friday released its shortlist of 3 candidates to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who will retire next week.