Ombudsman Morales orders hiring of more lawyers

In a bid to ensure the speedy disposition of cases at the Office of the Ombudsman, newly-appointed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the hiring of more than a hundred lawyers for the Office. In a press statement released Saturday, the Office of the Ombudsman said the move is one of the first steps Morales has taken upon assuming her post. Morales replaced Merceditas Gutierrez, who resigned last May, days before she was expected to face an impeachment trial at the Senate. In the statement, Morales also said the Office “intends to hire more lawyers as Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officers and Assistant Special Prosecutors." She said the Office is looking for competent lawyers with unquestionable integrity, and who have at least three years of relevant experience in the practice of law. Interested parties are advised to await the vacancy announcement and bulletin updates to be published at the OMB website for other qualification standards and further details. Meanwhile, statement said the Ombudsman has not yet granted media interviews because she is conducting and overseeing an intensive assessment and review of the existing systems and programs of the Office through a series of consultations and strategic planning during the transition phase. Morales also begs [for] “indulgence of partners in the media industry," saying that the Office is committed to transparency in informing the public of its immediate program of action and concrete plans once they are finalized after a series of consultations and strategic planning. — Carmela Lapeña/LBG, GMA News