Ombudsman Martires vows speedy disposition of cases, weed out corruption
INCOMING Ombudsman Samuel Martires vows to speed up the disposition of about 9,000 pending cases before his new office and to weed out corruption in government when he takes over from Conchita Carpio Morales, who will retire this week.
In his final flag raising ceremony as associate justice of the Supreme Court on Monday, Martires thanked all court personnel and officials for their support.
In ambush interview, Martires said weeding out corruption would be his top priority as Ombudsman.
“Yes, that is one of my priorities and when I assume office I would make the necessary announcement on what has to be done. I cannot say now because it would be unfair to the officers and employees of the Ombudsman if through the media they just learned na ito yung aking gusto [that this is what I want]. I will have a meeting with them on Wednesday when I officially assume office, and tell them what I like,” said Martires, who will officiallly begin his seven-year term on Wednesday.
Martires said he would demand from lawyer Edna Batacan, one of the candidates for Ombudsman, to identify the officials behind the “parking fee” operations, which involves a delay in cases filed before the office in exchange for money.
In an interview with the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which screens applicants, Batacan said that she herself experienced the “parking fee.”
“I am not saying I will summon her. What I’m saying — I will demand from her to identify who that employee, officer of the Ombudsman is na binigyan niya ng pera [to whom she gave money to],” he said.
At the same time, Martires warned Ombudsman officials and employees to stop being hypocrites and tell him if anything was wrong so that it could be corrected.
“I hate hypocrites, you smile at me, the way you’re smiling at me now that comes from your heart, then when I turn my back you say bad things against me. Do not praise me because they always say that ‘praise undeserved is slander in disguise.’ Just tell me my mistakes, and I will study that. Criticize me if you have to criticize me. You tell me where I made the mistake. Even as friends, you tell me, ‘Justice mukang mali yung ginawa ninyo [Justice, it looks like what you did was wrong],’” he said. JOMAR CANLAS
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