Martires takes oath as new Ombudsman

New Ombudsman Samuel Martires (second, right) accompanied by wife Cecilia takes his oath before acting-Chief Justice Antonio Carpio at the Supreme Court on Monday, August 6, 2018. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Updated (3:48 p.m.)

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires took his oath as the new Ombudsman on Monday before acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio.

Martires opted for an early retirement as SC Associate Justice after he was chosen by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales whose term ended on July 26.

The new Ombudsman said he will prioritize the resolution of pending cases, address inordinate delays, and probe alleged corruption at the anti-graft office.

He said he will sit down with his subordinates at the office to discuss areas that needed immediate attention before issuing orders.

Martires was chosen by the President from two candidates — former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and now Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval, and private practitioner Felito Ramirez.

READ: Duterte names Martires new Ombudsman

Martires is Duterte’s first appointee to the SC on March 2, 2017.

He was supposed to retire from the high court on Jan. 2, 2019 upon reaching the mandatory age of retirement of 70.

He served as a trial judge in Agoo, La Union prior to his appointment as an Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan in 2005. /cbb