TO stay or not to stay?
If Asst. Ombudsman for Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago had her way, she wants an early retirement.
But her superiors at the Ombudsman in Manila wants her to stay on until July 2012, when she reaches her mandatory retirement age.
The 64-year-old Santiago submitted her retirement papers to then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez who refused to accept her request.
In an interview, Santiago said acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro also wants her to stay.
“I think it’s time for me to go. Let other people do the job,” Santiago said.
When asked if she wanted to be appointed as an Ombudsman, she simply laughed.
Santiago said her children wanted her to retire for health reasons.
“I leave it to God. I shall abide by His will. If He wants me to go, let it be. If not, let it be,” she said.
Santiago said her children voiced concern over her health, especially with the volume of documents that she attends to.
Despite her age, Santiago drives her car and teaches law at the University of San Carlos (USC).
Santiago has repeatedly reiterated that the Ombudsman-Visayas is not sitting on the cases filed with their office. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol