Ex-SolGen Chavez withdraws Ombudsman bid

The number of those vying to be next Ombudsman is down to 26, following the withdrawal of the application of one nominee. On Monday, former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez told the Judicial and Bar Council that he is backing out from the selection process because his family wanted to spare him from "the stress and straing that would go along with the job." Chavez was supposed to face the JBC's public interview, but the private lawyer announced he is withdrawing his bid in a preliminary statement. Chavez explained that over the weekend, his family convinced him to no longer seek the post vacated by Merceditas Gutierrez last May. "We had a long discussion until eventually, they have prevailed upon me to place myself effective today beyond contention. I told them that it will be a chance for me to serve the public gain, but they said I have already served the public for five years," Chavez said. "It is with deep regret that I inform the JBC that I'd like to officially pull out from the selection process," he continued. After his statement, Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, the JBC's ex-officio chair, said: "I'd like to thank you for extending your courtesy to us for coming here personally and not merely sending a letter." To which, Chavez replied: "I pray the President will be endowed with the gift of discernment to be able to choose the right one for the sake of our coutnry and people." The JBC is set to grill four other Ombudsman aspirants on Monday. These are Judge Philip Aguinaldo, acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, De La Salle University law dean Jose Manuel Diokno, and advocacy lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. — RSJ, GMA News