Duterte names Martires new Ombudsman

Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires. Photo from https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/

President Duterte announced on Thursday the appointment of Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the new Ombudsman.

“We have a new Ombudsman. I signed the appointment of Justice Martires,” the President said during the 69th founding anniversary of the municipality of Ipil, capital of Zamboanga Sibugay province.

“He is bright and he’s a fair man,” the President said of Martires, as he declined to give him any marching order since the Ombudsman is an independent body.

“I do not have the power to order you. You belong to a different department. We’re independent of each other,” President Duterte added.

A graduate of the San Beda College of Law, the 68-year-old Martires will succeed Conchita Carpio Morales, who retired on Thursday.

First Duterte appointee

Martires, a native of Palapag, Northern Samar, was the President’s first appointee to the Supreme Court. He took office in March 2017.

As associate justice in the high court, Martires was among those who voted in favor of extending martial law in Mindanao and the granting of the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Sandiganbayan stint

Prior to his stint in the high court, he served in the Sandiganbayan from May 2006.

Martires also served as presiding judge of the Agoo Regional Trial Court Branch 32 in La Union province.— WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER ARCHIVES