Aside from Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita de Castro, ex-Sandiganbayan presiding justice Edilberto Sandoval is also vying to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, who is about to retire in July.
Sandoval, chief of the Office of the Special Prosecutor under the Office of the Ombudsman, has confirmed that he has filed an application to the Judicial and Bar Council to head the Ombudsman.
He said he decided to apply on his own, instead of seeking a nomination from an endorser.
Sandoval was appointed as chief of the Office of the Special Prosecutor on July 2017.
In 1996, he started as a Sandiganbayan associate justice, then became a presiding justice in 2010.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo Brioin nominated De Castro, a vocal critic of Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
After serving a full term of seven years at the Ombudsman, Morales will retire in July.
