DAVAO CITY (July 26) — President Rodrigo Duterte appoints Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Samuel Martires as the new Ombudsman to replace retiring Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Martires, 69, was endorsed by 11 justices of the high court to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the body tasked to screen applicants for the post.
Martires is a graduate of San Beda College of Law.
He  is also a fraternity brother of Duterte.
The new Ombudsman  will serve a 7-year term.
Last Friday, July 20, The members of the JBC in a meeting voted the for the contenders, based on the result Martires garnered seven votes, against other contenders which include retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval with five votes and private practitioner Atty. Felito Ramirez, who got four.
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Martires will replace Morales, 76, retired Thursday, July 26.-Harold V. Pontongan/NewsLine.ph
