MANILA- Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Martires’ application for early retirement, due to his new appointment as Ombudsman, was unanimously approved by his colleagues at the high tribunal on Tuesday, according to court insiders.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Martires on July 27 to replace retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

He will have a 7-year term as the country’s top graft-buster.

• Duterte appoints Martires as new Ombudsman

Martires is expected to take oath and begin work on Wednesday.

In an interview with reporters on Monday, he said he will prioritize resolving cases, addressing inordinate delays, and probe alleged corruption at the anti-graft office.

Martires is Duterte’s first appointee to the top court.

He served as a trial judge in Agoo, La Union prior to his appointment as an Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan in 2005.

Martires joined the high tribunal on March 2, 2017. He was supposed to retire from the high court on January 2, 2018 upon reaching the mandatory age of retirement of 70.

Martires finished law at San Beda College, also Duterte’s alma mater.

He bested two other candidates for the Ombudsman post namely, former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice and now Ombudsman Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval, and private practitioner Felito Ramirez.

Former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez lauded Duterte’s appointment of Martires.

“The judicial experience of Justice Martires, more than enough ang judicial experience niya and untarnished ang reputation; he will be an effective Ombudsman.”

Justice Secretary and Judicial and Bar Council member Menardo Guevarra said Martires is “the right person for the job.”