Retiring ombudsman singled out Wick Veloso

VIRTUAL REALITY

- TONY LOPEZ

Justice Samuel Martires retired Friday, July 25, 2025, ending a controversial seven-year tenure as ombudsman. A former Supreme Court justice, Martires was plucked from retirement by then president Rodrigo Duterte on July 26, 2018, apparently to help cover Digong's track (of human rights violations and allegations of corruption), post-presidency.

Before retiring, Martires made a number of trophy suspensions, to cap a career of "achievements." Targeted was blue chip banker, Arnulfo "Wick" Veloso, today the hottest fund manager you can find. The outgoing ombudsman took a terminal leave July 16, 2025. Five days before that, he signed Veloso's suspension — clearly a midnight order. The order was dated July 11, 2025 but was signed by Martires on July 15, 2025, before he went on vacation.

Wick Veloso is, of course, surprised and shocked. He was suspended for six months in connection with the stock purchase of 100 million preferred shares in Alternergy Holdings Corporation for P1.45 billion made by GSIS.

Alternergy is owned by Vince Perez Jr., an Ivy League-educated investment banker, a renewable energy pioneer and a former secretary of Energy. Vince, 67, has been an independent director of among the largest corporations in the Philippines.

Vince is the man behind the success of the 25 MW Bangui windmills of Ilocos Norte built in 2005 when Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., the future president, was the provincial governor. "For 16 years, we have built our name on integrity and transparency while delivering projects that strengthen our country's energy security and protect our environment," says Vince Perez. Vince also built the Pililla Wind Farm in 2015.

The first in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, Bangui's windmills fortified BBM's cred as a pro-renewables and pro-environment activist.