President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla as the new ombudsman, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Tuesday.
Remulla replaces Samuel Martires, whose seven-year term expired in July.
‘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,’ the PCO said in a statement.
‘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,’ the PCO added.
The PCO also said that Marcos reaffirms ‘transparency, fairness, and the rule of law’ as the core principles of his administration’s pursuit of a Bagong Pilipinas that truly serves the Filipino people.
From a total of 17 applicants, Remulla and six others were shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the ombudsman post.
Other shortlisted candidates were former Commission on Audit Chair Michael Aguinaldo, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Stephen Cruz, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, Office of the President Deputy Executive Secretary Anna Liza Logan, retired Supreme Court Justice Mario Lopez, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Musngi.
The voting members of the JBC were acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, representing Congress, and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, representing retired justices.
Also included in the signatories were JBC members Nesauro Firme (academe), Erlinda Piñera Uy (Integrated Bar of the Philippines), and lawyer Jose Mejia (private sector).
Remulla’s bid as chief graftbuster did not go smoothly, as he first had to secure clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman due to his pending cases – a requirement set by the JBC.
On September 12, the office announced that it had dismissed the cases filed against Remulla and others in connection with the supposed turnover of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
The cases stemmed from Sen. Imee Marcos’ allegations in May that the former president’s arrest involved graft, arbitrary detention, usurpation of authority and judicial functions, grave threats, false testimony, perjury, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.
Remulla secured his clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman on September 25.
The new Ombudsman has served as the 59th Secretary of Justice since June 2022.
Under his tenure, the Department of Justice has implemented significant reforms aimed at modernizing the justice system, reducing prison congestion, expediting case resolution, and broadening access to legal services.
He was re-elected as the representative of the 7th District of Cavite before accepting Marcos’ offer to head the Department of Justice.
Palace confident with Remulla’s appointment
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said they have the ‘highest confidence’ that Remulla will perform well in his new position.
‘He will be very impartial when he assumes his new role as the Ombudsman,’ he said.
Gomez noted that there had been a stringent process in selecting the new Ombudsman.
Asked why Remulla stood out among the seven shortlisted applicants, he said, ‘At the end of the day, after the president receives the recommendation of the JBC, it is still the decision of the president after he receives the shortlist.’ /jpv /gsg