By Hail to the Chair November 6, 2025

IN July 2025, Samuel Martires finally stepped down from his post as the Ombudsman of the Philippines after completing his lackluster term of seven years.  

His departure from public power is arguably one of the best things that happened to the country in 2025.  From what has been revealed during his incumbency and his recent departure from public power, the Office of the Ombudsman under Martires was virtually an inert office which institutionalized policies that ran afoul of constitutional mandates, and carried out important tasks in stealth.  The salaries and allowances paid to him are a woeful waste of public funds. 

It was almost as if there was no Ombudsman during his incumbency.  Like many “ghost” flood control infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Office of the Ombudsman under Martires was practically a ghost town with virtually no operations.

For instance, why didn’t Martires take steps during his tenure as Ombudsman to pursue an investigation of the recently publicized anomalies in DPWH projects which involve billions of pesos of taxpayers’ money?  Those anomalies took place when Martires was still the Ombudsman.  Martires may have been sleeping on the job.  At his advanced age, he probably needs all the rest he can get. 

The Constitution guarantees the right of the public to access the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of all public officers.  At least two statutes passed by Congress recognize that right.  One of them is the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the other is the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officers and Employees.  

Instead of complying with the mandate of the Constitution and the law, Martires issued his controversial Memorandum Circular No. 1 in September 2020.  That memorandum circular strictly requires that anyone who wants to get a copy of the SALN of a public officer on file in the Office of the Ombudsman must submit the written, notarized consent from the person whose SALN is sought.

Martires’ memorandum circular barred public access to documents imbued with public interest in violation of the Constitution and the law.   It is absurd to expect any public officer in his right mind to willingly give his consent to the release of his SALN to anybody who plans to investigate him.   Jurisprudence teaches that absurdity is not the objective of the law. 

At last, Martires’ memorandum circular was repealed by Memorandum Circular No. 3 issued by the new Ombudsman, Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla last month.  The unconstitutionality of Martires’ memorandum circular can be gleaned from the “whereas” clauses in Memorandum Circular No. 3.

For many, the repeal of Martires’ memorandum circular by Remulla’s memorandum circular has an exhilarating effect on all libertarians and freedom-loving Filipinos.  The feeling generated has been likened by many to how Filipinos felt when the Philippines was liberated from the Japanese military forces in 1945.  

The big irony is that Martires was a Justice of the Supreme Court prior to his assuming the role of Ombudsman.  As a magistrate of the high court, Martires must have been aware that his memorandum circular violates the Constitution and the law, and is repugnant to human nature.  

Just recently, it was learned that Martires came out with a “secret decision” which exonerated Senator Joel Villanueva in an administrative case filed against the senator during the term of Ombudsman Cochita Carpio-Morales.  The “secret decision” was supposedly rendered by Martires in February 2019, but Villanueva and Martires publicly revealed the existence of the “secret decision” only in October 2025, after six long years of suspicious silence.  

Some observers suspect that Villanueva avoided attracting public attention to his exoneration in the hands of Martires because his exoneration may have been based on flimsy grounds.  

There are current inquiries from taxpayers on how much time Martires spent abroad during his term as Ombudsman.  With the lackluster output associated with Martires’ term, the public is entitled to answers.   So far, Martires is silent about this.  Hopefully, Ombudsman Remulla will get the answers soon and disclose the same to the public.  

Whatever excuses Martires may give for his secretive behavior, what clearly stands out as objectionable is the undue, suspicious secrecy by which he comported himself in the exercise of his public duties.  This is evident from his issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 1, his “secret decision” exonerating Joel Villanueva, and the lack of information about his travels abroad.  

As a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Martires has been given retirement benefits that are enviable by ordinary public officers. 

Now that he has retired as Ombudsman, Martires will also be entitled to hefty retirement benefits separate from but in addition to his retirement benefits from the Supreme Court.  

In fine, it’s a windfall twice over for Martires, in exchange for his lackluster stint as Ombudsman; for his issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 1; for his “secret decision” exonerating Joel Villanueva; and, possibly, for his junkets abroad.  From the available indications, he does deserve those benefits.  

Last October 30, a newspaper columnist called Martires “the Paladin of Corruption.”

Martires should be immediately charged by the Office of the Ombudsman.  If Martires is found guilty, all his retirement benefits should be forfeited.  That way, justice may have been delayed, but at least justice may perhaps be just around the corner.  ■

• “Forthwith” to Farce: How the Senate is Killing Impeachment—And Why Enrile’s Right (Even If You Can’t Trust Him)
• “HINDI AKO NAG-RESIGN!”
• “I’m calling you from my new Globe SIM. Send load!”
• “Mahiya Naman Kayo!” Marcos’ Anti-Corruption Vow Faces a Flood of Doubt
• “Meow, I’m calling you from my new Globe SIM!”
• “PLUNDER IS OVERRATED”? TRY AGAIN — IT’S A CALCULATED KILL SHOT
• “Shimenet”: The Term That Broke the Internet and the Budget
• “We Did Not Yield”: Marcos’s Stand and the Soul of Filipino Sovereignty
• “We Gather Light to Scatter”: A Tribute to Edgardo Bautista Espiritu
• $150M for Kaufman to Spin a Sinking Narrative
• $2 Trillion by 2050? Manila’s Economic Fantasy Flimsier Than a Taho Cup 
• $26 Short of Glory: The Philippines’ Economic Hunger Games Flop