In a stunning decision lauded by the downtrodden employees of the Department of Tourism, the Ombudsman issued a decision that Undersecretary Theresa I Martinez was guilty of Nepotism based on a case filed against her in 2007 by the President of the employees association of the DOT.
The case stemmed from the hiring of Undersecretary Martinez’s brother, Mario Ilagan, in the San Francisco Office of the Department of Tourism. Finally some sense of justice from an Ombudsman who has been under fire for the Garcia fiasco.
The hands of Secretary Alberto Lim were tied based on the order from the Ombudsman which was executory immediately leaving him with no other option but to dispense with the corrupt Undersecretary Martinez. However, the DOT Secretary immediately stated that the Undersecretary was free to appeal the Ombudsman’s decision as is her right. But as of this date, there is no recourse but to follow the order and dismiss her from the service.
Once a person is dismissed from the service for cause, most specially one as grave as nepotism, all accrued benefits from government service are cancelled – retirement etc. Likewise, the individual is banned from further government service either appointive or by election. This prevents corrupt individuals from further peddling their “special talents” elsewhere.
Undersecretary Theresa I. Martinez is a protege of Narzalina Lim who recommended her highly to Secretary Alberto Lim. Martinez was an Assistant Secretary overseeing the Administrative Services of the DOT which controlled the contracting of parties and employees, financial operations and the purchasing of equipment and rental of facilities. She also controlled the legal office and the administrative liaison office of the DOT which conducted direct negotiations with Senators and Congressmen for tourism related bills, issues and their usual tours to countries they visit.
She has only been found guilty for NEPOTISM as regards the issue of her brother Mario Ilagan being hired at the SF DOT office as stated earlier. But other issues hound this government official as tourism insiders would put it. Here are some.
1. The hiring of security services where one particular person assigned to her is transferred from agency to agency in exchange for a contract in the DOT. This means that this same security personnel is adopted by the new security agency that has been granted a contract by Martinez.
2. The hiring of her daughter, Trixie Martinez, in the New York DOT office.
3. Unwarranted use of facilities (such as the coconut palace when it was under the DOT) and services by relatives and close associates in the guise of tourism related activities.
4. Position peddling in exchange for loyalty and other gratuities.
5. Undermining the higher authorities on the implementation of directives.
6. The use of official government vehicles for personal activities. It is rumored that 5 vehicles were assigned to this official. Yes 5. And not all have been returned as of this report.
With the temporary departure of Undersecretary Martinez, employees of the DOT are given a window to introspectively look into their own actions and performance. Those who have been identified closely with the corrupt official must do the same twice over and see whether they themselves would be subject to investigation. They may be more worried now as Undersecretary Martinez might spill the beans or much more just pass the buck to them in mounting her defense.
This would be worth watching, much like Secretary Alberto Lim is doing while smoking his pipe and wondering…Now who do I trust?
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Tags: Ace Durano, Alberto Lim, Department of Tourism, DOT, Malacanang, nepotism, Ombudsman, Philippine Tourism, Pilipinas Kay Ganda, PNOY, Richard Gordon, Theresa Martinez, tourism, WOW Philippines
San Lorenzo Village Monitor 
December 2, 2011 at 6:48 am
Ms. Maritess I. Martinez was a school mate. We had seen each other once every two years, maybe less, but I know for a fact that she has been with the DOT for 40 years, worked there immediately after graduation in the early 70’s. For many years she has been ASEC. It should not be a surprise if she was consulted on many matters about the operations of the DOT by the USECs. She has been ASEC for many years. Never promoted. I wondered why. DOT heads come and go. She stayed. I wonder what her previous bosses have to say about her performance, her misdeeds, if truly there were. She’s 60. More than half of her life was with the DOT. If nepotism is against the law (sigh…) then why was not the appointments of her brother or daughter rejected? So she has abused her position, yes, like many others. Poor Maritess, her 40 years with the DOT made her Mayordoma with a magic wand and it is now being used to beat her. It is a sick system. Guilty or not, the office she served more than half of her life made her what she is, one that has no checks and balances, no accountabilities. I can only sigh our national phrase, haaaaaay naku! I feel bad for her as I feel bad for our country, too.
February 14, 2012 at 4:45 am
She is a very astute politician, always earning the good side of people by dispensing favors through the use of her position. Several DOT Secretaries had placed her on “ice” because of her underhanded ways, however, she had managed to stick to her post because of the connections she amassed in the congress and halls of power. Indeed, it was her self-importance that did her in. Recently she has appealed her case with the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan. She was also reported to have approached several politicians in Laguna to help her brother who was accused of Rape.