President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Dante F. Vargas as the Acting Ombudsman, a Palace source has confirmed to The Situation Report.
Vargas was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte as Deputy Ombudsman in March 2022.
Prior to his work in the private sector, he previously served as Graft Investigation Officer II of the Office of the Ombudsman from 1988 to 1993, and Legal Officer IV at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Vargas earned his Psychology degree from Siliman University in 1978 and completed his Law degree at Ateneo de Davao University in 1986.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 26, released the schedule of public interviews for candidates vying to become the next Ombudsman, following the retirement of Samuel R. Martires.
The Judicial and Bar Council will conduct the interviews from August 28 to September 2 at the SC En Banc Session Hall, with recordings to be uploaded after the final session.
Ombudsman Martires retired on July 27 after completing his fixed seven-year term. Prior to leading the anti-graft office, Martires served as a Supreme Court associate justice, a Sandiganbayan justice, and a regional trial court judge.
