PRESIDENT Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was urged yesterday to tap the like and caliber of the late Sen. Jose “Pepe” Wright Diokno for the replacement of Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez who had resigned last Friday from her office effective May 6.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, chairman of the House committee on public information, said President Aquino should look for a guy to head the anti-graft body whose integrity and ethics are beyond reproach like Diokno.

“President Aquino should look for a Jose W. Diokno in the legal community to replace Ombudsman Merci (Gutierrez). The next Ombudsman should stand for what is right, legal and moral, and without a fiber of partisanship or cronyism in his or her body, someone like the late Sen.  Jose W. Diokno. The next Ombudsman must be able to speak with truth and power. His or her independence and integrity must be unquestionable,” said Evardone.