📷: Former Ombudsman Samuel Martires
Bayan Muna is pressing for a thorough investigation into former Ombudsman Samuel Martires’ properties, lifestyle and bank accounts for possible ill-gotten wealth following revelations of a secret 2019 decision that reversed the dismissal order against Senator Joel Villanueva.
The group also appealed to the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit amid allegations of his use of confidential funds for his travels abroad as well as reports of midnight appointees in the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Dapat suriin kung may biglaang pagtaas ng yaman niya habang siya ay Ombudsman. Ang isang secret decision na tumulong sa isang senador na sangkot sa pork barrel scam ay hindi normal—ito ay may kapalit,” former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares said.
Colmenares recalled that in 2016, then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found Villanueva liable for grave misconduct for misusing P10 million in PDAF funds for a ghost livelihood project in Compostela Valley.
“The decision of Ombudsman Carpio-Morales was based on the evidence that the Respondent’s project employed fabricated documents, a supplier that didn’t exist, an NGO with only P68,000 in capital implementing a P10 million project, and beneficiaries who were not even registered voters. Ombudsman Morales did her job,” he said.
“But then Martires came in, suddenly, in secret, the dismissal order was reversed. For years, no one knew. Even the current Ombudsman didn’t know until he announced he would enforce the dismissal. As Ombudsman, Martires stopped the move to publish SALNs which was highly suspicious as the Ombudsman should implement RA 6713 which requires that public documents and SALNs “shall be made available for inspection” to the public. He should have submitted his SALN when he assumed office and when he stepped down. A thorough investigation of his previous and recent SALN, assets and lifestyle must now be undertaken to ferret any unexplained wealth” said Colmenares.
Colmenares also called on COA to conduct a special audit on Martires use of his confidential fund amid allegations that he used his confidential funds in his foreign travels.
“We are calling on the Commission on Audit to immediately conduct a special audit of former Ombudsman Martires’ use of confidential and intelligence funds during his term,” Colmenares stated. “He declared during budget hearings that he does not need confidential funds but reports show that he spent his confidential funds through the years. If he cannot submit proof of payment or receipts for his expenses, or he violated Joint Circular 2015-01 (January 8,2015), then he must be charged in court for malversation of public funds and corruption. The investigation must also include whether Martires made a huge number of “midnight appointments” before he stepped down. It would be difficult to investigate him if the Office of the Ombudsman is littered by his allies, while he removed employees who did not agree with his use of public funds and his policy against prosecuting government officials,” he said.
“This is why corruption cannot be eradicated by the mere filing of charges against corrupt officials, or independent commissions and promises of reform. There is a need for dismantling the system of corruption by cleansing not just corrupt agencies like DPWH and DepEd but also cleansing the supposed guardians of public funds like the Ombudsman, DBM, even COA and AMLC who only conducted selected targets but not corrupt public officials” he added.
Colmenares called for systemic reforms to prevent similar abuses. “This scandal shows why we need genuine reforms in how we select and hold accountable our constitutional officers, even the President. We also need to abolish confidential and intelligence funds. Time and again, these funds have been used not for legitimate intelligence work, but for a different purpose or a public official’s private expense. Ang taumbayan ay gutom na sa hustisya. Pagod na tayo sa mga corrupt officials na nagpoproteksyon sa isa’t isa habang milyun-milyong Pilipino ang naghihirap. Enough is enough,” Colmenares concluded.#
