THE Judicial and Bar Council will conduct public interviews for those vying for the top Ombudsman post, including Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, from August 28 to September 2.
The Ombudsman post was left vacant after Samuel Martirez completed his 7-year term last month.
Among those vying for the post, aside from Remulla, are Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares-Jacinto, Philippine Competition Commission Chair Michael Aguinaldo, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Musngi, Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Beda Epres, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Bautista Corpin, retired SC Associate Justice Mario Lopez, retired Court of Appeals Justice Stephen Cruz, Sandiganbayan Presiding Judge Geraldine Econg, Regional Trial Court Judge Jayson Rodenas, Deputy Executive Secretary Lisa Logan, DILG Undersecretary Romeo Benitez, lawyer Melvin Matibag, retired RTC Judge Benjamin Turgano, and lawyer Jonie Caroche-Vestido.
First to face public grilling on August 28 are Aguinaldo, Benite, Caroche-Vestido, Bautista Corpin and Cruz.
On August 29, it would be the turn of Econg, Epres, Gaerlan and Jacinto-Henares.
Logan, Lopez, Matibag and Musngi will appear before the JBC on September 1.
Remulla, Reyes, Rodenas, and Turgano will face the JBC on September 2.
Earlier, an online report claimed Remulla has been excluded from the JBC list due to pending complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the arrest and subsequent turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court last March.
Remulla said he has remained committed to seeking the top Ombudsman’s post.
The JBC is the body tasked by the Constitution to screen nominees and applicants to the judiciary.
