Duterte appoints Martires as new Ombudsman
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday named his fraternity brother, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires, as the country’s new anti-graft chief.
In a speech in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on Thursday, Duterte announced that Martires would replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, who retired on Wednesday, July 25.
“We have a new Ombudsman. I signed the appointment of Justice Martires.
He is bright and he is a fair man,” Duterte said.
“Ang sabihin ko lang sa iyo (I want to tell you), do what is right,” the President said, addressing Martires.
Prior to his appointment, Martires was endorsed by 11 justices of the high court to the Judicial and Bar Council, the body tasked to screen applicants for the judiciary.
Given his appointment to the Ombudsman post, the 69-year-old Martires will have to go on early retirement from the judiciary as he has yet to reach the mandatory age of retirement of 70.
He will serve a seven-year term.
Martires obtained his law degree from San Beda College, the President’s alma mater. Both are from the Lex Talionis fraternity.
He served as a trial court judge in Agoo, La Union prior to his appointment to the Sandiganbayan on October 15, 2005 by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. CATHERINE S. VALENTE
The post Duterte appoints Martires as new Ombudsman appeared first on The Manila Times Online.