SC junks petition to dismiss Ombudsman for allegedly overstaying

April 24, 2018

The Supreme Court has dismissed a consolidated petitions seeking to order Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to vacate the position for allegedly overstaying.

During its en banc session in Baguio City Tuesday, the SC voted unanimously to dismiss the petitions filed by former Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) general manager Al Vitangcol and lawyer Rey Nathaniel Ifurung seeking the ouster of Morales for lack of merit.

SC spokesman Theodore Te said the tribunal ruled Morales was appointed to a full term of seven years without reappointment and not serving the unexpired portion of the predecessor.

In his petition, Vitangcol asked the SC to declare the term of office of Morales had expired on Nov. 30, 2012.

Morales was appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III to a seven-year term on July 25, 2011 following the resignation of then-Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez over allegations of incompetence and inaction on various cases.

Gutierrez resigned on May 6, 2011 from the post to avoid an impeachment trial in the Senate, leaving an unexpired term until Nov. 30, 2012. DMS