Palace names Harvard Law alumnus as new deputy Ombudsman

President Benigno Aquino III named lawyer Francis Jardeleza as the new deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Friday. Jardeleza is the replacement of Mark Jalandoni who resigned last April, after charges of usurpation of official function and authority were filed against the latter. Jardeleza, a graduate of the University of the Philippines and Harvard Law School, served as corporate secretary, counsel, and senior vice president of San Miguel Corp. and its various subsidiaries from 1986 until he retired last 2010. He also served as non-executive director of Del Monte Pacific Ltd. and corporate counsel of Cosmos Bottling Inc. Jardeleza was also a former partner at the Angara, Concepcion, Cruz, Regala, and Abello Law Office (ACCRA). Valte, on the other hand, said there is no appointment yet for the new Ombudsman. She however confirmed that the Office of the President has already received the nomination list from the Judicial Bar Council. “Hindi ko lang sigurado kung nakarating na sa Pangulong Aquino… May oras pa naman bago yung minamandatong deadline for the appointment. Pero ang importante, nasa atin na yung shortlist," Valte said. — JE, GMA News