I'm not interested in Ombudsman, SC justice posts - De Lima

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said she is not aspiring to be the next Ombudsman or to be the next Supreme Court justice. Speaking to reporters at a press briefing, De Lima said that even if she is a member of the Judicial and Bar Council — the body that screens and recommends to the President appointees to the judiciary and to the position of Ombudsman — she may "theoretically" apply for the said posts. However, De Lima said she is not keen on applying or accepting nominations because she is satisfied with her duties as head of the Department of Justice. "Theoretically, yes [I can apply] but I already said I'm not interested. I've been here for less than a year, right? I'm just only starting out, and there are a lot of problems, a lot of challenges. And I feel it would be more fulfilling. The mandate of the DOJ is broader, so I feel I can do a lot more," said De Lima. Asked why she does not want to be a Supreme Court justice, De Lima replied in jest: "It's cloistered. Can you imagine me being unable to talk? That's not my cup of tea." The JBC has already opened the applications and nominations for the positions to be vacated by SC Associate Justices Eduardo Nachura and Conchita Carpio-Morales in June and July, respectively. De Lima said that six more SC justice aspirants have sent their applications after the JBC extended the deadline of the application process to April 29. This means that there are now at least 34 applicants vying for the two posts to be vacated this year. Meanwhile, the council is yet to open the selection process for those who want to replace Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, whose resignation will take effect on May 6, Friday. De Lima and other members of the JBC have earlier said that the selection process will begin by publishing that a vacancy in the Ombudsman post exists. The council will only publish the notice upon receipt of an official communication from the Office of the President that Gutierrez has resigned. — Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMA News