Samuel Martires

Samuel Reyes Martires (Tagalog: [sɐˈmwɛl ˈreɪjɛs ˈmɐɾtɪrɛs]; born January 2, 1949) is a Filipino lawyer serving as the Ombudsman of the Philippines since 2018. He was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 2017 to 2018.

The Honorable Samuel Martires
Ombudsman of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office August 6, 2018
President	Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by	Conchita Carpio-Morales
175th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office March 6, 2017 – July 31, 2018
Appointed by	Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by	Jose Perez
Succeeded by	Ramon Paul Hernando
Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan
In office October 15, 2005 – March 6, 2017
Appointed by	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Personal details
Born	January 2, 1949 Palapag, Samar, Philippines
Spouse(s)	Cecilia
Education	Manuel L. Quezon University (AB) San Beda College (LLB) University of Santo Tomas
Net worth	₱ 57.06 million (Dec 2018)[1]

Early life

Samuel Reyes Martires was born on January 2, 1949 in Palapag, Samar (now in Northern Samar).[2][3][4] His father died when he was five years old. When he was in high school, he wanted to become a priest; he sought permission from his mother to become a missionary but was denied. Some of his relatives were Catholic priests: two of his father's cousins were Benedictines while Cardinal Julio Rosales, the Archbishop of Cebu, was a relative of his grandfather. According to Martires, he continued to dream of priesthood until he met his would-be wife Cecilia.[4]

Martires attended Manuel L. Quezon University in Quezon City and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1971. He then earned his Bachelor of Laws from San Beda College in 1975 and passed the bar exam the following year, becoming the first lawyer in his family.[4][5] At San Beda, he became a brother of the Lex Talionis Fraternitas.[6][7]

Early legal career

After qualifying as a lawyer, he worked as a legal officer for the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communication until 1979. He then became an assistant department manager at the Ministry of Human Settlements until 1984.[8] Martires was also involved in some small business ventures. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, he received an offer to become a judge, which he declined, citing the low salary and their ill reputation of being corrupt. His mother, however, wanted him to join the judiciary.[4] Beginning in 1987, he went into private practice as a litigator handling mostly civil cases.[9]

Martires enrolled in the Master of Laws program of the University of Santo Tomas but only earned 27 units.[9]

Agoo RTC judge

In June 1998, a month after his mother's death, he submitted his application to become a trial court judge. In July 2000, he became the presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 32 of Agoo, La Union.[4][9]

In 2002, Judge Caroline Pangan of the Rosario, La Union Municipal Trial Court filed an administrative complaint to the Supreme Court against Martires and fellow Agoo RTC judge Clifton U. Ganay. She accused the two judges of "gross ignorance of the law, incompetence, abuse of authority and dereliction of duty". Martires allegedly refused to issue a warrant of arrest for a murder suspect despite the presence of evidence and the urgings of the prosecution. The complaint was dismissed for lack of merit.[9][10]

Supreme Court associate justice

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him on March 2, 2017. Prior to his appointment, he had served as Associate Justice of Sandiganbayan from 2005 to 2017.[11]

On May 11, 2018, Samuel Martires was one of the eight justices who voted in favor of the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against then-Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.[12]

Ombudsman of the Philippines

On July 26, 2018, he was appointed as the 6th Ombudsman by President Rodrigo Duterte, replacing then-outgoing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.[13]

In September 2020, Martires issued a memorandum circular regarding the releasing of copies of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of public officials. The said guidelines were criticized for adding more restrictions on who can acquire copies of the documents. Under the new guidelines, the people who can request copies of SALNs are the public officials who filed them or their representatives, a court as part of a case, and the Ombudsman's field investigators. The public, especially the media, are now required to present a notarized letter from the public official whose SALN they intend to see.[14][15][16] The memorandum cited "The Code of Conduct for Public Officials" (Republic Act No. 6713), however, the aforementioned law allows journalists to obtain copies of officials' SALNs and report on them.[15] He also announced that his office will stop conducting lifestyle checks on public officials, reasoning that having a luxurious lifestyle does not prove that an official is corrupt.[17][18] He also criticized lifestyle checks as "illogical" and "purely" based on estimates.[18][19] He also claimed that the SALNs and lifestyle checks are used by the media and political rivals to "extort" government officials.[19]

In frustration, Martires suggested that the Office of the Ombudsman should be abolished, citing the lack of witnesses and their refusal to testify or file affidavits makes investigations more difficult and thus renders the office unnecessary.[20] His predecessor, Conchita Carpio-Morales, criticized his proposal, arguing that it will "open floodgates to the commission of more corrupt activities."[21][22]

References

1. Chiu, Patricia Denise M. (July 7, 2019). "Ombudsman wealthier by P15M in 2019". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
2. Ramon T. Tulfo (December 7, 2019). "Is there a really incorruptible police officer?". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
3. Francisco, Katerina (December 2, 2016). "Who's who: Candidates vying for SC justice post". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
4. Rempillo, Jay (January–March 2017). "The Unplanned Magistracies" (PDF). Benchmark. Manila: Supreme Court Public Information Office. pp. 8–13. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
5. Bueza, Michael (June 28, 2017). "Who are Duterte's San Beda appointees to gov't?". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
6. Romero, Alexis (July 27, 2018). "Samuel Martires named new ombudsman". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
7. Co, Adrian Stewart; Golez, Prince (July 28, 2018). "Du30 frat brother new Ombudsman". Panay News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
8. Gavilan, Jodesz (May 16, 2018). "Get to know the applicants for Ombudsman". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
9. Francisco, Katerina (March 6, 2017). "Get to know Samuel Martires, Duterte's new Ombudsman". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
10. Judge Caroline B. Pangan v. Judge Clifton U. Ganay and Judge Samuel R. Martires, A.M. NO. RTJ-04-1887 (Supreme Court of the Philippines, 2nd Division December 9, 2004).
11. "Sandiganbayan Incumbent Justices". Sb.judiciary.gov.ph. Retrieved 2017-05-19.
12. Punay, Edu (May 12, 2018). "Supreme Court Ousts Sereno". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
13. "Duterte appoints Samuel Martires as Ombudsman". Rappler. July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
14. Gabriel Pabico Lalu (September 15, 2020). "Ombudsman limits people who can request for gov't officials' SALN". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
15. Buan, lian (September 15, 2020). "In new official rules, Ombudsman restricts public access to SALN". Rappler. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
16. Ong Ki, Czarina Nicole (September 17, 2020). "Group slams Ombudsman's decision to restrict public access to SALN". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
17. Galvez, Daphne (September 22, 2020). "Martires stops lifestyle checks on public officials". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
18. Pani, Llanesca (September 22, 2020). "Martires stops lifestyle checks on public officials, says wealth does not translate to corruption". GMA News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
19. Cordero, Ted (September 26, 2020). "SALN, lifestyle checks used by politicians, media practitioners for extortion -Martires". GMA News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
20. Galvez, Daphne (September 22, 2020). "Refusal of witnesses to testify frustrates Martires; calls for abolition of Ombudsman". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
21. Araja, Rio N.; Requejo, Rey E. (September 24, 2020). "Abolition of Ombudsman nixed". Manila Standard. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
22. "Ex-Ombudsman Morales slams Martires' directive on SALN restriction". CNN Philippines. September 23, 2020. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2020.