Detained Senator Leila de Lima on Thursday criticized Ombudsman Samuel Martires for his aversion to the disclosure of public officials’ Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) and lifestyle checks, saying the Ombudsman himself is undermining the mandate of his own office.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“If Ombudsman Martires is averse to the disclosure of SALNs and lifestyle checks, how does he intend to fulfill his mandate?” De Lima said in a statement.
“Nakakabahala at nakakamangha ang desisyon ni Ombudsman Martires na ipatigil ang pagsilip sa SALN at ang pagsagawa ng lifestyle check sa mga opisyales ng gobyerno. Binaliktad ni Martires ang mandato ng Ombudsman (Ombudsman Martires’ decision to stop the release of SALNs and the conduct of lifestyle checks on government officials is indeed alarming and surprising. Martires reversed the mandate of the Ombudsman),” the opposition senator stressed.
De Lima, a former justice secretary, said she finds Martires’ policies unnerving, pointing out that the Office of the Ombudsman, under his watch, seems to be in favor of protecting corrupt public officials rather than shielding citizens from their acts.
“Sa buong kasaysayan ng Ombudsman, ngayon lang nangyari na ginawang napakadali ng Ombudsman ang pandarambong sa gobyerno (For the first time in the history of the Ombudsman, this is the first time that an Ombudsman made it easy for corruption to thrive in government),” she lamented.
De Lima, likewise, rejected proposals for the abolition of the Office of the Ombudsman, saying it would be best to pursue Martires’ removal from his position instead.
“Simple lang naman ang mandatong nakalagay sa Konstitusyon at sa batas: Ang public office ay public trust. Kasama nito ang obligasyon ng transparency at accountability dahil pera ng sambayanan ang nanganganib na makulimbat, (The Constitution and the law’s mandate is clear, that public office is a public trust. That comes with the obligation for transparency and accountability because it is taxpayers’ money that is in danger of being misused),” she pointed out.
“Kung hindi sila handang mabusisi ng publiko ang kanilang taglay na kayamanan, umalis sila sa gobyerno (If they can’t handle their wealth being under public scrutiny, then they should leave the government). If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” she added.
“Mauna na dapat si Martires para mapalitan na siya ng isang Ombudsman na totoong mangangalaga sa kapakanan ng taumbayan, imbes na kampihan pa ang mga tiwali sa pamahalaan (Martires should be the first to go, so he can be replaced by a true Ombdusman who will take care of the peoples’ welfare, instead of siding with corrupt people in government),” she said.