Castillo named Ombudsman officer-in-charge

Metro Manila, Philippines - Office of the Ombudsman special prosecutor Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo was named officer-in-charge, the agency said on Monday, July 28.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the designation after Ombudsman Samuel Martires retired on July 27.

Marcos named Punzalan-Castillo as the Ombudsman’s special prosecutor in October 2024.

In 2004, Punzalan-Castillo was appointed Court of Appeals Associate Justice.

In November 2023, Marcos picked her to be CA presiding justice, then retired in September 2024.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said interviews for Ombudsman aspirants will begin after Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address.

There were 17 applicants for the position, according to the Judicial and Bar Council.

The list included Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, and incumbent Philippine Competition Commission Chairman Michael Aguinaldo.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg also applied. She was appointed presiding justice in January.