SC’s Martires joins list of aspirants to be next Ombudsman

SC Associate Justice Samuel Martires. (Photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Samuel Martires has joined other aspirants to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

According to records from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), Martires was nominated by a former colleague – retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Perez. He accepted the nomination.

Martires, a graduate of San Beda, was the first appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Supreme Court.

If appointed as Ombudsman, he will follow the steps of Morales who moved in to the Office of the Ombudsman upon retirement from the Supreme Court.

Martires will retire on January next year.

Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, Martires was a justice of the Sandiganbayan.

Two other Supreme Court Associae Justices have been nominated for the Ombudsman post – Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Teresita Leonardo De Castro.

But De Castro has declined the nomination, while Velasco did not submit a conforme, without which his nomination will not be considered.

Aside from Martires, Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz has joined the list ofg aspirants for the Ombudsman’s top post.

Dela Cruz is the chairman of the Sandiganbayan’s First Division and is handling the plunder case against former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

The application and nomination for the top Ombudsman post closed last May 15. The candidates will then by interviewed by thr JBC members.

The JBC will then come up with a shortlist of candidates to be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The President has 90 days from vacancy to choose the next Ombudsman. /atm