Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Tuesday said she is just too excited to retire.
She said she wants to spend her time to “industriously do nothing for the meantime.”
“I’m euphoric. I could hardly wait for two more days,” she added.
She said she has long been longing to “wake up pretty” on her first day of retirement.
Morales said she is leaving the Office of the Ombudsman with such great pride, knowing that she has not done anything wrong as the chief graft buster.
She said she was loyal to the rule of law in her entire career, and that “I shall always be loyal to the rule of law.”
Instead of attacking her, she said President Rodrigo Duterte should even praise her “relentless campaign against corruption.”
She said she had never caused misinformation or disinformation to the public, neither was she a victim of such.
“I do not remember having come up with fake news, and neither have I remembered being able to receive fake news as is because we would always validate them.”
Morales is retiring on July 26 after serving a full term of seven years.
Last July 20, the Judicial and Bar Council released its shortlist of three candidates who would possibly take over the Ombudsman post.
They are Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires, Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval and private lawyer Felito Ramirez, who initially got a vote of 6, 5 and 4, respectively.
According to the 77-year-old Morales, her successor “should be able to just bring out the truth, should be able to determine which cases should be given priority, and should constantly monitor the movement of cases if it’s physically possible.”
When asked about her reaction on former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo being elected as House Speaker, Morales said she cares less.
“I was deadma(lice). Nothing. Deadma,” she said.
“Well, nothing is permanent,” she said.
She added that it was the prerogative of the members of the House of Representatives to choose her as their leader.
On July 16, 2012, the Ombudsman filed a P366-million plunder rap against Arroyo in connection for the alleged misuse of funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
On Oct. 4, 2012, Arroyo was ordered arrested and was placed under hospital arrest until July 19, 2016, after the Supreme Court ordered the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the plunder complaint with finality against her and to release her from detention at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Morales had challenged the decision, saying the Ombudsman had evidence to prove Arroyo’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
In February 2012, the Ombudsman dismissed with finality the plunder case filed against Arroyo and other former Cabinet officials in connection with the P1.2-billion sale and disposition of the Iloilo airport to Megaworld Corp. due to utter lack of merit and evidence.
Last Monday, Arroyo was elected House Speaker, replacing Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.