If the nation takes the words of such trapos as Senators Imee Marcos, Bato de la Rosa, or Rodante Marcoleta, we would be led to believe the appointment of Jesus Crispin Remulla as ombudsman would foment political instability. That is absolutely unfounded because the apolitical situation is already unstable.
Remulla, the patriarch of Cavite’s leading political dynasty, is so feared by the DDS because they invented this conspiracy theory, most probably concocted by Imee and VP Sara Duterte, that Marcos and Remulla entered into a secret agreement to prosecute the Dutertes. The instability isn’t in the nation’s political situation but could be only in the minds of DDS.
The first ombudsman, who was appointed after this position was created under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, was retired justice Conrado Vasquez who was appointed by then President Corazon Aquino. He held that office from May 12, 1988 to May 12, 1995. Before the appointment of the second ombudsman, Francisco Villa was acting ombudsman for 77 days. The second ombudsman was Aniano Desierto, appointed by president FVR and served from August 4, 1995 to August 4, 2002.
Vasquez was a trustee of the Aquinos and Desierto was a comrade of FVR in the armed forces. But they did their duties without fear or favor. There was no political instability as a result of their respective appointments. Mariano Gervasio acted as Ombudsman for 67 days before the third ombudsman was installed. Simeon Marcelo was appointed by GMA and held office from October 10, 2002 to December 1, 2005.
Marcelo was replaced by Merceditas Gutierrez who held that office from December 1, 2005 until she resigned (under threat of ouster by impeachment) on May 6, 2011. Orlando Casimero acted as Ombudsman for 82 days before a new one was appointed. To my mind, the best Ombudsman was retired Supreme Court justice Conchita Carpio-Morales. She caused the prosecution of the Binays in connection with the infamous Makati Parking Building, but didn’t cause undue political instability.
Morales was associate justice from 2002 to 2011, and served as Ombudsman from July 28, 2011 to July 28, 2018. In both positions, Morales served with integrity, competence, and probity. Her career is beyond reproach. She is fearless, forthright, and didn’t feel beholden to the president. She did her job impeccably and without fear or favor. In many cases, she decided against the interests of the Aquinos and she never hesitated to do what was right. She didn’t cause any instability except only in the minds of the corrupt.
Perhaps an opposite to Morales was retired justice Samuel Martires who was appointed by President Duterte and held the office of the Ombudsman from July 18, 2018 to July 18, 2025. His decision not to allow the SALNs of the president and other public officials was criticized as it clearly violated the letter and the spirit of the SALN Law. The public was deprived of the opportunity to see the financial standing of every public official from the time of assumption to office up to the time of vacating the same.
The baggage of Remulla is his being a political animal. He has been a board member, governor, congressman, and Cabinet member. He is too beholden to the Marcos administration which gave him and his brother, Johnvic of the DILG tremendous breaks in their careers. Unlike Justices Conrado Vasquez, Conchita Carpio-Morales, and Sauel Martires who were career jurists all their life, Boying has always been a politician. He is the first politician to be appointed to that critical office. That could be a baggage he would carry as his acts and decisions may be branded political.
But I’m an incurable optimist, I still believe in the presumption that every person is essentially good and will most probably do the right things. I don’t subscribe to Imee and Sara’s theories of conspiracy. They have no basis. Their speculations are expected of politicians, and their prognosis may be possible but highly improbable. I think Boying will send many deserving crooks to prison. I’m not sure though if these include any of the Marcoses or the Dutertes.
Let’s give the man a chance to prove that he is worth his salt. And let’s assume that BBM is doing what is right. Boying’s seven-year term anyway shall go beyond the tenure of the president. And he can be impeached if he betrays the people’s trust. Both the president and the Ombudsman are accountable to the people.