• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said yesterday the next Ombudsman should stand firmly for accountability, transparency, and good governance.
“Our people do not need an Ombudsman who will stand on the sidelines while public funds are plundered,” Benitez said in a statement.
The Judicial and Bar Council has concluded the public interviews for the position of Ombudsman, following the retirement of Ombudsman Samuel Martires last month.
“The responsibility now rests with the Judicial and Bar Council to put forward only the best names for the President’s consideration,” Benitez said.
He added that the next Ombudsman must be someone with the courage, competence, and integrity to make sure the impunity does not continue.
“We have seen what happens when corruption is left unchecked: chronic flooding, ghost projects, and wasted resources,” the lawmaker said, noting the public shock and outrage upon seeing the unexplained excessive wealth of contractors flaunted on social media and exposed in congressional hearings.
“Ideally, the Ombudsman must have real experience in dealing with corruption, because the office’s mission is to fight it,” he added. | GB
