President Duterte Appoints Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires As New Ombudsman
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the new ombudsman.
Justice Martires is now the new ombudsman after he was appointed by President Duterte to replace the post of Conchita Carpio-Morales who retired earlier this week.
Mr. Duterte made the announcement during the 69th anniversary of Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay describing Martires as a strict and fairman.
“We have a new ombudsman. I signed the appointment of Justice Martires. He is bright and he is a fair man,” Duterte said quoted by Philstar.
The President reminds the new ombudsman to do what is right and to his other appointees since he does not have the authority to release orders to Martires who now leads an independent constitutional agency.
Martires and Duterte are fraternity brothers in San Beda Law School’s Lex Talionis.
The new ombudsman was also among the justice who voted in favor of Solicitor General Jose Calida quo warranto petition against chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Conchita Carpio-Morales refused to give comment on Martires but enumerated the qualities that an ombudsman should have.
“You have to be independent, you have to be industrious, you have to have integrity, you have to have transparency. Without which I don’t think you will deserve respect of the people,” Morales said.
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The government under the Duterte Administration has chosen a man he can trust in his administration as the Ombudsman, a former Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court (High Tribunal). Ombudsman Samuel Martires is an incorruptible man in the judiciary.