Group questions Martires’ independence as new ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — A group who rallied behind ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno expressed concern over the appointment of Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the new ombudsman.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday announced that he has appointed Martires—his first appointee to the Supreme Court—as the country’s new corruption buster, taking the position vacated by Conchita Carpio-Morales.

He described his fellow graduate from San Beda as a “bright,” “strict” and “fair man.”

But Coalition for Justice stressed that Martires “has not displayed independence”—one of the characteristics of the ombudsman along with having probity and integrity.

“As justice of the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court, his decisions have been suspiciously aligned with the interests of this and previous administrations,” CFJ said in a statement.

The group cited Martires’ stances on issues such as voting in favor of the burial of dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, martial law in Mindanao and the ouster of Sereno.

“This is the same Justice Martires who refused to inhibit himself from the quo warranto case against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno despite his clear demonstration of bias and faith-shamed her during the oral arguments,” it said.

At the anti-graft court, Martires penned the 2011 decision that junked graft charges against then-Davao City Mayor Duterte over a city project.

CFJ, moreover, expressed concern that the new ombudsman will not seriously pursue the ill-gotten wealth cases against resigned Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and investigate the bank accounts of the Duterte family.

“Considering his track record, the new ombudsman gives us little hope that the corrupt within the Duterte administration will be brought to justice,” the group said.

Martires received 11 votes of confidence from his peers at the high court. In the Judicial and Bar Council, he received six votes and led the shortlist that included three names.

During the JBC interview, he claimed he does not have close ties to Duterte.

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