Group reiterates opposition to Martires' bid for ombudsman post

MANILA, Philippines — A group of theological educators on Wednesday reiterated their opposition to Associate Justice Samuel Martires' bid for the ombudsman post, a day after he received 11 votes from the Supreme Court to push for his candidacy.

In a statement, the Group of Evangelical and Catholic Theological said that Filipino people “deserve better” than the possible appointment of Martires as the country’s next graft-buster.

“The appointment of [Martires] as the next Ombudsman is to besmirch the institution and besmirch the institution and compromise its independence,” Annabelle Sabanal, spokesperson of the group, said.

READ: SC recommends Martires ombudsman

“To appoint someone with such a history of enduring bias and questionable integrity violates the Constitutional mandate and purposely blurs its vision," Sabanal added.

The same group earlier filed an opposition to the Martires’ nomination. They cited the justice’s line of questioning to then-Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno who faced the SC in an oral argument on the government's quo warranto petition against her.

READ: Priests, theological teachers oppose Martires’ bid for ombudsman post

They said that Martires’ questions linked her faith to “mental illness” and showed “lack of respect to faith-based communities” and his “lack of probity.”

Martires, speaking to reporters after facing the Judicial and Bar Council panel, apologized to Sereno if he had offended her and insisted that he never meant to “faith-shame” her.

The group also stressed that Martires “approved a compromise agreement with former military comptroller Carlos Garcia” that allowed the latter to plead guilty to a lesser offense.

The ruling was issued by the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division, where Martires was then a member. The ruling was penned by Edilberto Sandoval, then-presiding justice and now-Office of the Ombudsman special prosecutor.

The group also raised an issue on Martires’ resolution that cleared the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos of P50-billion civil liability.

“This is consistent with Martires’ revisionist historical interpretation that Marcos was not ousted by the Filipino people in February 1986,” they said.

“The High Court’s endorsement flies in the face of the Constitutional stipulation that the Ombudsman must possess probity and independence, “ said Sabanal.

The JBC is set to deliberate on the shortlist for the ombudsman post on Friday, July 20. The list will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte on the same day.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales will retire from her position on July 26.