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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Colmenares wants lifestyle check on Martires amid Villanueva case ruling controversy

Colmenares wants lifestyle check on Martires amid Villanueva case ruling controversy

Published Oct 24, 2025 04:02 pm

At A Glance

  • Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares is calling for a lifestyle check on former Ombudsman Samuel Martires following revelations of a secret 2019 decision that reversed the dismissal order against Senator Joel Villanueva.
Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares (Facebook)
Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares (Facebook)


Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares is calling for a lifestyle check on former Ombudsman Samuel Martires following revelations of a secret 2019 decision that reversed the dismissal order against Senator Joel Villanueva.
Colmenares, in a statement Friday, Oct. 24, said authorities should launch a thorough investigation into Martires' properties, lifestyle, and bank accounts for possible ill-gotten wealth.
"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," claimed the militant leader.
(It should be investigated whether there was a sudden increase in their wealth while they were Ombudsman. A secret decision that helped a senator involved in the pork barrel scam is not normal—it comes with a price.)
In 2016, then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found Villanueva liable for grave misconduct for misusing P10 million in Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) 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," noted Colmenares, a lawyer.
He said the current Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla didn't even know until he announced he would enforce the dismissal.
"As Ombudsman, Martires stopped the move to publish SALNs (statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth) which was highly suspicious as the Ombudsman should implement RA (Republic Act) 6713 which requires that public documents and SALNs “shall be made available for inspection” to the public," recalled Colmenares.
Remulla has lifted his predecessor Martires' restrictions on SALNs.
Colmenares said Martires "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,” the ex-solon underscored.
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