Good Morning Judge: The office of the Ombudsman

IT IS gratifying to note that by-partisan members of the House of Representatives “have signed a resolution calling on everyone to respect the independence of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales amid looming threats of impeachment against the country’s top graft buster.” As reported in yesterday’s ((Oct.11) issue of the PDI, 26 lawmakers sponsored House Resolution No. 1395 that seeks to “express the sense of members of the House of Representatives to support, preserve and protect the constitutional independence and integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman. As succinctly pointed out in the resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman was created under the Constitution to act as an independent body “to serve as protector of the people against the inept, abusive and corrupt in the government. The framers of the Constitution intended that this independent body be insulated from political pressure to the extent that the absence of independence would result in the impairment of their core functions to shield it from the pressure and influence of officialdom and partisan politics from fear of external reprisal.” As reported, there were 21 LP and 5 non-LP signatories to the resolution. It may be recalled that President Duterte announced a plan to have a commission investigate the Office of the Ombudsman for corruption and partisanship shortly after the Ombudsman announced that it was investigating the wealth of the President and his family. He likewise said that he intended to have Morales impeached along with Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In a previous issue of this paper, this writer has expressed his view on the Ombudsman as an independent body and cited the dedication, honesty and sincerity of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales when she was assigned as Regional Trial Court Judge in Pili, Camarines Sur. Meanwhile, It is regrettable that the Supreme Court in a 9-6 vote nixed the Petition of incarcerated Senator Leila de Lima to quash the complaint against her on the issue of jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court over the case filed against her. One bright prospect however, is that the Supreme Court resolution may still be reconsidered what with the slim difference in the 9-6 vote. Reportedly, the camp of Senator De Lima is intending to file a Motion for Reconsideration. TRIVIA: Congratulations to Sis Malyn Dagooc who celebrated her Nth birthday anniversary the other day with a dinner with his former Couples for Christ Household members at Kenny Rogers Restaurant at Robinson Plaza. Greetings to Ms. Rowena “Weng” Aquino of Enjoy Realty and Development Corporation on the occasion of her birthday anniversary last October 10. Belated congratulations! Greetings and thanks also to Naga City Policeman PO Briones and his two other companions who were assigned at the Basilica Minore last September 17 (Penafrancia Fiesta). PO Briones escorted this writer in getting my car from the Petron Gas station where it was parked along Magsaysay Avenue as my spouse Minda could not afford to walk back anymore from the Basilica compound after we attended the 5:00pm mass at the Basilica Minore. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: “FOR AS LONG AS YOU KEEP YOUR LIFE USEFUL LIFE WILL ALWAYS BE WORTH LIVING”. WASHINGTON SYCIP FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE: “HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED NOR GO THE WAY OF THE SINNERS.” PSALM 1:1