The paladin of corruption

Every patriotic Filipino should denounce Samuel Martires, the unlamented just retired ombudsman.  He is the paladin of corruption and impunity in government.

The emerging narrative is that this taciturn lawyer has been issuing clearances to the corrupt even after leaving the Office of the Ombudsman and backdating the clearances; hence, the indecent secrecy behind his backdoor deals.

As ombudsman, Martires was enamored with secrecy. By 2020, he declared that statements of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs) of government officials be kept secret, under lock and key in his office. It was easier to go to heaven than getting a SALN of an official.

RA 6713 (the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) requires all government people to file SALNs within 30 days after assumption of office, on or before April 30 of every year thereafter and within 30 days after separation from the service.

Ombudsman Martires’ Memorandum Circular No. 1 dated Sept. 1, 2020 stopped SALNs filed at the ombudsman from being released to the public, including media, unless the one requesting has a notarized letter of authority from the SALN owner himself. “All requests to inspect or to take picture of the SALN will be denied,” he declared.

Also, Martires worked to protect the corrupt from punishment. Like a thief in the night, he surreptitiously overturned the verdict of dismissal from the service of religious senator Joel Villanueva, today, the lord of the ring of pork money highjackers in the Senate.

After the Martires memo, impunity became the name of the game among the greedy and corrupt in government.

During Martires’ reign (2018 to 2025), as the people’s tribune, corruption scaled the zenith of greed and reckless disregard for basic decency.

In 2016, then ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the dismissal of Joel Villanueva for “grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service” over alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2008 during his tenure as a CIBAC party-list congressman. The P10 million was intended for projects that turned out to be bogus. The dismissal order was sent to the Senate which sat on it.

Until Oct. 24, 2025 when newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla tried to follow up on Senate compliance with Carpio’s 2016 order, only to be told by Villanueva himself that the senator was actually cleared by Ombudsman Martires as early as 2019.

If indeed, he was cleared in 2019, why did Villanueva, who often cites biblical truths in his perorations, keep quiet about it? For six years! Was he embarrassed by the clearance? Dyahe ba?  Kakahiya naman ba, Pastor Joel?

Yesterday, Villanueva, along with Jinggoy Estrada, headed the list of officials to be charged with graft and plunder, circa 2025, before now Ombudsman Remulla, entangled in the P1-trillion flood-gate. Having escaped punishment previously, thanks to Martires, Villanueva has struck again. Idol!

Section 13, Article XI of the Constitution grants immense powers to the ombudsman, including to:

(1) Investigate on its own, or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.

(2) Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any public official or employee of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as of any government-owned or controlled corporation with original charter, to perform and expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties.

(3) Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public official or employee at fault, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure or prosecution, and ensure compliance therewith.

(4) Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or properties and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action.

(5) Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents.

(6) Publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant and with due prudence.

(7) Determine the cause of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud and corruption in government.

Note Item (6) – “publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant.”

The Ombudsman Act of 1989 (RAs 6770) gives the office disciplinary authority over all public officials, except impeachable officers – the president, vice president, Supreme Court justices, the ombudsman and members of constitutional commissions.

Not being impeachable officers, senators are covered by the ombudsman for misbehaving.

Ombudsman Morales’ 2016 dismissal order against Villanueva was final, executory and binding. The Senate cannot treat the dismissal as a piece of paper.

Per UP, up to 40 percent of the budget is stolen. The 2026 “people-centered” national budget is P6.79 trillion. If 40 percent or P2.7 trillion is stolen, how can that be people-centered, Sec. Ralph Recto?

Per their SALNs, the following is how rich – or poor – our senators are:

Mark Villar P1.261 billion net worth; Raffy Tulfo P1.052 billion; Erwin Tulfo P497 million; Migz Zubiri P431.77 million; Camille Villar P362 million;

Ping Lacson P244.94 million; Robin Padilla P244 million; Jinggoy Estrada P221.2 million; Lito Lapid P202 million; Tito Sotto P188.868 million; JV Ejercito P137 million; Pia Cayetano P128.29 million;

Win Gatchalian P89.52 million; Bam Aquino P86.55 million; Loren Legarda P79.2 million; Rodante Marcoleta P51.96 million; Joel Villanueva P49.5 million; Bong Go P32.4 million; Kiko Pangilinan P26.73 million; Risa Hontiveros P18.98 million and Chiz Escudero P18.84 million.

To get their true wealth, multiply declared net worth by three to six times. Thieves lie. In their net worth.

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