President Duterte has appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the country’s new Ombudsman, urging him to “do what is right.”
Martires, who led the shortlist of candidates for the Ombudsman post, will take the place of Conchita Carpio Morales whose seven-year term ended this month.
“We have a new Ombudsman. I signed the appointment of Justice Martires,” the President said during his visit to Zamboanga Sibugay.
“He is bright and he’s a fair man,” Duterte said about the new Ombudsman.
Duterte declined to give any marching order to Martires and recognized the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman.
“I do not have the power to order you. You belong to a different department. Independent tayo,” he told Martires.
“Ang sabihin ko lang sa iyo. This is my statement: Do what is right. That’s it,” he added.
Martires, a graduate of San Beda College of Law, was the President’s first appointee to the Supreme Court. Before his appointment to the High Court, he served as Justice of the Sandiganbayan.
[SOURCE]
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