In a dramatic and unexpected return to the public discourse, former Ombudsman Martirez has forcefully broken his silence, launching a powerful defense of his tenure and challenging the very foundation of accusations leveled against him. The former official, who has been criticized by his successor, “Ombudsman Remulia,” and others for allegedly operating under a “veil of secrecy,” has fired back with a stunning explanation for his methods, painting a picture of an office guided by principle rather than publicity.

The controversy ignited over claims that certain high-profile case decisions, including one involving a sitting senator, were finalized in 2019 without public knowledge. This led to accusations that the former Ombudsman was not transparent. Martirez directly confronted these claims, questioning if his critics, including a law professor who was interviewed, truly understood the duties of the office. He stated unequivocally that it is not the Ombudsman’s mandated function to conduct daily press conferences to announce every single decision made.

In a fiery rebuttal, Martirez revealed the core philosophy that guided his actions, arguing that his approach was rooted in protecting the dignity of all individuals involved. He drew a sharp distinction between the Ombudsman’s role, which is to find “probable cause,” and the courts’ role, which requires “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” Martirez argued that publicly announcing a filed case before a final court conviction would irreparably damage the accused person’s reputation, name, and family.

The former Ombudsman declared that he refused to “glorify” himself at the expense of people whose guilt had not yet been proven by a court. He then drew a sharp, unspoken contrast to his successor, noting that while he rarely sought media attention, the current office seems to relish the spotlight, comparing the behavior to that of a “reporter” who needs to be the “star of the night.” He asserted that the values instilled in him were to respect his fellow man, not to tear others down simply to become famous, leaving many to question the motives behind the current wave of public announcements.