Geline Salac

Martires denies accepting VP Sara confidential funds, says ready to face charges

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

Ex-Ombudsman Samuel Martires denied Friday accepting millions of pesos in confidential funds from Vice President Sara Duterte, saying he is ready to face any lawsuit filed by the government. &quot;Bakit nila ako iimbestigahan? Bakit, opisyal pa ba ako ng gobyerno para imbestigahan nila? This is a matter of jurisdiction now. They can do anything. Sa panahong ito, kahit anong gusto nilang gawin, gagawin nila. Gawin nila kung ano ang gusto nilang gawin. Kasuhan nila ako kung gusto nilang kasuhan. Walang problema sa akin &#x27;yun. Haharapin ko ng masaya. Malaigayang puso haharapin ko ang anumang kaso ang ipataw nila sa akin,&quot; he said, adding that the government should first study the charges diligently.Speaking to DZMM, Martires questioned Ramil Madrigal’s affidavit in which the bagman allegedly received instructions to deliver P125 million in confidential funds from the Department of Education Central Office to three locations - San Pablo, Laguna, Nommu Basho in Tomas Morato, Quezon City, and the Office of the Ombudsman.“Bawi tayo sa kanila,” Duterte allegedly told Madriaga. Madriaga claimed the entire P125 million was delivered to the 3 locations in 24 hours. He claimed 2 bags containing P30 million to P35 million each were placed in a red Mazda sedan inside the OMB parking lot with the keys on top of the left front wheel “which is our usual practice when delivering large amounts of money.”In the interview, Martires questioned why the Vice President would pay him back for anything when he did not even vote for her in the 2022 elections.“Sabi sa isang paragraph: ‘Para makabawi naman tayo sa kanila.’ Ano ang ipasasalamat sa ‘kin ng VP? Bakit siya magpapasalamat sa akin?”“Bakit siya magpapasalamat sa akin e hindi ko naman siya ibinoto nung eleksyon? Ang ibinoto ko si Tito Sotto. Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw…Ang kandidato ko na presidente si Ping Lacson. Lacson-Sotto ako so bakit siya magpapasalamat sa akin. Hindi nag-isip ‘yung gumawa niyan. Malaking kalokohan ‘yan.”Martires said he was never close to the Vice President, having only met her once when she was vice mayor of Davao City.He also questioned a portion of Madriaga’s affidavit that said: “Previously and upon direct instructions of PRRD or Sara, I have also delivered money to Ombudsman Samuel Martires or Atty, Ryan [Quilala], which I  usually placed inside an open trunk of a designated car.”“Sino ang nag-utos sa kanya - si President Digong o si VP Sara? Why was he given discretion…” he asked.He also cast doubt on Madriaga’s claim that he saw Quilala’s wife driving a blue Vios, which allegedly had bribe money, saying Quilala’s wife did not have a license and did not know how to drive.Martires said he does not understand why his name is being linked to the impeachment hearing, noting that Madriaga did mention his name in his first affidavit last November. “Naguguwapuhan sila sa akin,” he joked.Asked why Madriaga would testify to falsehoods while under oath, the ex-Ombudsman said: “Sa aking pag-aaral, ang isang sinungaling, kahit pasumpain mo pa - nakapatong ang [kamay] sa bibliya - magsisininungaling pa rin. Kahit si Satanas nagbabasa ng bibliya.” Martires questioned the need to investigate him, saying he is no longer a government official, while challenging the government to file a case against him.In his testimony, Madriaga claimed there was a term-sharing deal between former president Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in which the latter would allow his Vice President, Saraa Duterte, to take over by 2025.He also claimed ex-president Duterte had gathered retired generals to oust Marcos or even assassinate him by poisoning if he refuses to step down.<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gz5b45b_69g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div><div>DUTERTE’S FAVORITE</div>In the interview, Martires admitted he owes a lot to former president Rodrigo Duterte for appointing him as associate justice of the Supreme Court in 2017 after serving as Sandiganbayan associate justice for 12 years.“Inaamin ko na ang nagsabi mismo sa akin na mag-apply ako sa Supreme Court ay si Presidente Digong,” he said.“Gusto niya ako ang maging unang appointee niya sa Supreme Court. Bakit ako ang pinili niya, hindi ko alam.”He said that before his appointment, he was already planning to retire and had no interest in applying for the country’s highest court because of the workload.Martires admitted he and Duterte both went to San Beda College but had never met even in alumni homecomings since they were several batches apart. He said he finally met the future president after a Sandiganbayan out-of-town hearing when Duterte was still mayor.Martires said he also owes Duterte his appointment as Ombudsman but denied the ex-president influenced his decisions.“Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Digong. Kung ano ako ngayon - naging Ombudsman, naging Supreme Court justice - ay utang na loob ko ‘yan pero ‘yung utang na loob na yan ay nagpapasalamat sa Diyos na si Digong ay disenteng tao at hindi nakialam sa mga kaso ko,” he said. <div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FzhSQyaqRfg?&amp;t=518s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pC1QV8MBCg4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

Ex-Ombudsman Samuel Martires denied Friday accepting millions of pesos in confidential funds from Vice President Sara Duterte, saying he is ready to face any lawsuit filed by the government.

Ex-Ombudsman Samuel Martires denied Friday accepting millions of pesos in confidential funds from Vice President Sara Duterte, saying he is ready to face any lawsuit filed by the government.