MANILA, Aug. 27 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Dante Vargas as the new acting Ombudsman, Malacanang announced on Wednesday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed Vargas' latest appointment in a text message to Palace reporters.

The appointment was announced just a day before the Judicial and Bar Council's scheduled screening of candidates for the position of Ombudsman.

Before Vargas, retired Court of Appeals presiding justice Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo was named acting Ombudsman on July 28, taking over the post vacated by Samuel Martires, who retired on July 27.

Prior to the designation, Vargas worked as Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, where he supervised fact-finding inve...