Aquino confident new Ombudsman will do her job well

MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday expressed confidence that newly-installed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales will be able to do her function as Ombudsman as mandated by the Constitution.

“We now have confidence that the Ombudsman will be doing the function for which the office was set up,” the President said in an ambush interview following the formal opening of the 2011 National Science and Technology week at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia on Wednesday in Pasay City.

During her oath taking which was presided over by President Aquino at Malacanang’s President’s Hall on Wednesday, Ombudsman Carpio Morales vowed to perform her duties and responsibilities and uphold the Philippine Constitution.

“Ako ay taimtim na nanunumpa na tutuparin ko ng buong husay at katapatan sa abot ng aking kakayanan ang mga tungkulin ng aking kasalukuyang katungkulan at aking itataguyod at ipagtatanggol ang saligang batas ng Pilipinas at tunay na mananalig at tatalima ako rito,” Carpio Morales said.

Joining Ombudsman Morales in the oath taking rites were her husband Eugenio T. Morales, Jr., her two sons, Eugenio III and Umberto.

Among the Cabinet officials who witnessed the oath taking ceremonies were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang, and Presidential Management Staff director general Julia Abad.

Also present were former Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Land Registration Authority Administrator Atty. Eulalio Diaz III, among others.

Before her appointment as Ombudsman, Carpio Morales served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Born on June 19, 1941, in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Carpio Morales is the daughter of Judge Lucas D. Carpio and Maria Claudio.
Carpio Morales started her career in a Manila law firm where she was an Assistant Attorney. From 1971 to 1983, she worked at the Department of Justice as assistant, lawyer, researcher, assistant special lawyer and senior state counsel before she became a judge.

Between 1983 to1986 she was appointed by then President Ferdinand Marcos as a trial court judge in Pili, Camarines Sur.

On November 4, 1986, former President Corazon Aquino appointed her as trial court judge in Pasay City.

In 1994, Carpio Morales was appointed by President Fidel V. Ramos to the Court of Appeals where she headed the 7th Division of the CA.

On September 3, 2002, upon the unanimous endorsement of the members of the Judicial and Bar Council, she was appointed to the high court by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo