Malacañang expressed confidence on Wednesday that outgoing Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla will fulfill his mandate as ombudsman for the interest of the entire country, and not for just a select few – not even the Marcos administration’s political agenda.
‘His appointment as Ombudsman must be marked by transparency and accountability – that those who should be held accountable must indeed be held accountable. Ombudsman Remulla works for the entire nation, and not for any single sector or group of Filipinos,’ Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a briefing.
She brushed aside allegations that among the focuses of Remulla’s work as the new ombudsman was to investigate the alleged misuse of the confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Critics claimed this could lead to her incarceration, or worse, her dismissal from public office, which would bar her from seeking the presidency in the 2028 elections.
‘Whatever needs to be investigated must be investigated – nothing should be ignored or brushed aside. Whatever the public has the right to know must be properly looked into by the ombudsman,’ Castro noted.
Malacañang maintained that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), and not the Office of the Ombudsman, should take the lead in investigating alleged anomalies in flood control projects and related infrastructure.
Castro dismissed calls to abolish the ICI just because Remulla was appointed as the next ombudsman. While Remulla was familiar with the flood control projects under scrutiny, Castro rejected the idea that the Ombudsman should single-handedly conduct the investigation, raising concerns about possible delays.
‘The ombudsman does not focus only on flood control projects. There are many cases that the Ombudsman needs to pay attention to. So, we do not see this as a reason to abolish or end the work of the ICI,’ she said.
Castro told critics: ‘Would they really want the ombudsman alone to handle all of this? How long would it take for a single case to be resolved that way? That’s why there truly needs to be an independent commission that will focus on the issue.’
She added that the work of the ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be expedited once the ICI completed its document gathering and preliminary investigations into the anomalous flood control projects.
As the new ombudsman, Remulla yields considerable power. He is set to lead the constitutional body empowered by the 1987 Constitution to prosecute, suspend, fire, and even file criminal cases against erring government officials.
‘The administration remains firm in its commitment to fight corruption wherever it exists. As ombudsman, Remulla is expected to uphold transparency, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and ensure that justice is administered fairly and efficiently,’ Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez earlier said in a press briefing announcing his appointment.
‘There will be no sacred cows, no exemptions, and no excuses. Public office is a public trust, and those who betray it will be held accountable,’ he added.
Malacañang defended the President’s decision to pick Remulla despite concerns from critics of the administration – including presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos – that he was too beholden to the President and would erode the credibility of the Office of the Ombudsman. ‘Secretary Remulla went through a very stringent process required under our Constitution. He was vetted by the JBC, and appointed by the President. I don’t believe that there is a basis to that concern,’ Gomez told reporters.