Martires, fellow Bedan, is Duterte’s first appointee to Supreme Court

SANDIGANBAYAN ASSOCIATE Justice Samuel R. Martires is the first high court appointee of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Supreme Court (SC) Public Information Office (PIO) yesterday which reads: “The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the [SC] welcome [Mr.] Martires as the Court’s 175th Associate Justice and its newest member.”

“Justice Martires’ appointment dated [March 2, 2017] was received by the Office of the Chief Justice today, [March 6, 2017],” the SC PIO also noted.

Mr. Martires replaces retired SC Justice Jose P. Perez who reached the mandatory retirement age on Dec. 14, 2016.

Mr. Martires, during his public interview with members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Nov. 16 last year, Mr. Martires was quizzed about he was connected with Mr. Duterte. He clarified that his meeting with Mr. Duterte in August last year, was a “private affair.”

Mr. Martires received his law degree from San Beda College of Law, Mr. Duterte’s alma mater.

Notable in his stint as Sandiganbayan Justice was a resolution approving a plea-bargaining agreement that thereby reduced the plunder charges against retired general Carlos F. Garcia to bribery and money laundering. Mr. Martires and former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto G. Sandoval concurred with the resolution penned by former Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Teresita Diaz-Baldos.

In 2011, Ms. Baldos and Messrs. Martires and Sandoval were ordered investigated by then- justice secretary (and now detained Senator) Leila M. de Lima, after then party- list representative ( and now Senator) Ana Theresia Hontiveros- Baraquel and others accused the three Sandiganbayan Justices of issuing an unjust interlocutory order approving the plea- bargaining agreement.

The SC is set to hear a petition filed by Ms. de Lima challenging the legality of her arrest and detention as ordered by Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 Executive Judge Juanita T. Guerrero.

Members of Ms. de Lima’s political party, Liberal Party (LP), notably Senator Franklin M. Drilon and Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, had earlier called for vigilance on Mr. Duterte’s appointments to the SC.

Mr. Duterte is set to make another appointment following the retirement of Associate Justice Arturo P. Brion on Dec. 29. He will appoint at least 10 justices in his six-year term.

LEDAC APPOINTEES, OTHERS

Still on the matter of Monday’s appointments, Mr. Duterte has appointed representatives of the local governments as well as the youth and private sectors for the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

In an omnibus e- mail to reporters containing several appointment letters signed by the President, Mr. Duterte appointed the following officials to LEDAC:

• Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni L. Cayetano as representative of local government units;

• National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Cariza Y. Seguerra as representative of youth sector; and

• Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) President George T. Barcelon as representative of private sector.

Meanwhile, others appointed to the government are as follows:

• Kenneth Chen Cobonpue, Co-chairperson, Regional Development Council, Region VII, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA);

• Renato Umali Solidum, Jr., Undersecretary, Department of Science and Technology;

• Rico Sarcena Pableo, Jr., Executive Director, National Commission for Culture and the Arts;

• Rogelio B. Luy, Member, Board of Trustees, Local Water Utilities Administration;

• Patricia Yvette Malabanan Ocampo, Member, Board of Trustees, Nayong Pilipino Foundation;

• Alvin R. Reyes, Member of Board of Trustees, Asian Productivity Organization (APO);

• C’zar Mojado Sulaik, Deputy Administrator, National Irrigation Administration (NIA);

• Eleazar G. Diaz, Executive Director, Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Office, Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Transportation;

• James T. Lao, Member, Board of Governors, Philippine Red Cross;

• Jay Daniel R. Santiago, Member, Board of Directors, Philippine Ports Authority

• Jorge S. Estanislao, Member, representing the Municipality of Morong, Bataan, Board of Directors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA);

• Jose Antonio E. Goitia, Executive Director, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

• Jose David Lapuz, Presidential Consultant for Education and International Organization, Office of the President;

• Jose Pamintuan de Jesus, Member, Board of Directors, Clark Development Corporation;

• Julius S. Escalona, Member, representing the Municipality of Hermosa, Bataan, Board of Directors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA);

• Marvin Ted Rementilla Macapagal, Member, representing the National Government, Board of Directors, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA);

• Mauricio Gamsao Domogan, Chairperson, Regional Development Council, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); and

• Melzar Pascua Galicia, Commissioner, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. — with