Duterte appoints new deputy ombudsman for Mindanao

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Anderson Ang Lo as the new Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao.

Lo will resolve complaints against local officials in Mindanao, which could include complaints against presidential son Paolo Duterte, or Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte.

He is the second close Duterte associate to get a high-ranking position at the Office of the Ombudsman, after Duterte appointed his former legal consultant, Warren Liong, to be Overall Deputy Ombudsman.

Lo defended his lack of government experience to the Judicial and Bar Council by stating his youth and eagerness to prove his worth would be an advantage.

He was appointed alongside Dante Flores Vargas, who will serve as deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, and Jose Mercado Balmeo Jr. as deputy Ombudsman of the military and other law enforcement offices (MOLEO).

Both Lo and Vargas will serve a fixed term of seven years each.