SC endorses Martires for ombudsman post
The Supreme Court (SC) nominated yesterday its member, Associate Justice Samuel Martires, for the position to be vacated by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales next week.
Justices of the high court voted unanimously to endorse to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) the inclusion of Martires in the shortlist to be released on July 20.
Martires, a former Sandiganbayan magistrate, topped the list of nominees recommended by the SC after 11 justices present during yesterday’s session all voted for him.
The list included Special Prosecutor and former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Edilberto Sandoval and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who got four and three votes, respectively.
Martires, President Duterte’s first appointee to the high court, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 in the judiciary on Jan. 2 next year.
If Duterte chooses to appoint him as the next ombudsman, Martires will have to go on early retirement to start his duties in the anti-graft office after Morales retires on July 26.
The JBC is constitutionally tasked to screen applicants and nominees for vacancies in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman. It recommends appointees to the Office of the President through a shortlist of at least three nominees per post.
The JBC will submit its shortlist to the President, who has 90 days from submission of the list to fill up the position.
The JBC is composed of acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio as ex-officio chair, with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Sen. Richard Gordon as ex-officio members.
The four regular members are retired SC Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, lawyers Jose Mejia and Milagros Fernan-Cayosa and retired Judge Toribio Ilao.
Nine candidates have been interviewed and passed prequalification requirements, including Martires, Bello and Sandoval.
The other candidates include Associate Justice Efren de la Cruz, lawyers Edna Herrera-Batacan, Rey Nathaniel Ifurung, Rainier Madrid, Felito Ramirez, Rex Rico and Davao City Regional Trial Court Judge Carlos Espero II.