Remulla vows to ‘sort out this mess we’re in’
Newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday vowed to “sort out” the corruption mess rocking the government and prosecute erring officials, including members of Congress.
The 64-year-old justice secretary is assuming the Ombudsman post amid a flurry of allegations that some senators and congressmen colluded with public works officials and private contractors to skim off billions of pesos for flood control projects since 2022.
As if to signal the urgency of the matter, President Marcos signed Remulla’s appointment papers on Tuesday, a day after he received the shortlist of candidates, directing him “to fight corruption” unmindful of “sacred cows.”
The President picked Remulla over former Commission on Audit chair Michael Aguinaldo—who garnered six votes over the secretary’s five votes from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC)—and over the fierce objections of his sister, Sen. Imee Marcos.
The scandal has led to the ouster of Senate President Francis Escudero and the resignation of Speaker Martin Romualdez, triggered a series of street protests, and sparked rumors of a coup against the President, posing the most serious threat yet to government stability.
“We are entering the midst of a firestorm,’’ Remulla told reporters following news of his appointment.
“Let’s sort out this mess we are in right now and let’s find an answer and find someone to be held accountable.”
‘No sacred cows’
The Ombudsman will prioritize cases filed by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, National Bureau of Investigation and Department of Public Works and Highways on anomalous flood control projects, he said.
“We will have all the data submitted and validated,” Remulla said, promising to expedite the process because “the truth is, this is no secret to us, we already know what happened.”
In announcing his appointment, Malacañang said Remulla “is expected to uphold transparency, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and ensure that justice is administered fairly and efficiently.”
“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,” said Secretary Dave Gomez of the Presidential Communications Office.
Remulla, who takes over from Samuel Martires who retired in July, will take his oath on Thursday and assume his post on Friday.
Justice Undersecretary Frederick Vida will be the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) officer in charge.
Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon and Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña urged Remulla to expedite the investigation and filing of cases not only against personalities in the flood-control mess, but all those named in various corruption schemes in government.
“Whoever is affected by the investigation of his office, everyone should be prosecuted and held accountable. He must spare no one. He will hear the voices of the people who are furious about corruption,” said De Lima.
Disqualification cases
Gomez defended the President’s choice of Remulla from concerns raised by critics, including Senator Marcos, that he was too beholden to Mr. Marcos and that his appointment 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 [for] that concern,” Gomez said.
Also shortlisted for the post were 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.
Senator Marcos tried to disqualify Remulla from the selection process by filing criminal and administrative complaints against him in connection with the March 11 arrest of Rodrigo Duterte.
The former President is facing charges of crimes against humanity of murder before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Under JBC rules, applicants with pending cases are disqualified from being nominated for appointment to any judicial post, including the Ombudsman.
After the Ombudsman dismissed her complaints in September, Senator Marcos filed a motion for reconsideration.
Duterte’s son, acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, also filed criminal complaints and a disbarment case against Remulla.
On Sept. 24, Remulla said he had secured an Ombudsman clearance to stay in the running for the post.
Reforms
When Mr. Marcos took his oath on June 30, 2022, he tapped Remulla to lead the DOJ as its 59th secretary.
According to Malacañang, the DOJ under Remulla advanced major reforms to modernize the justice system, decongest prisons, accelerate case resolution and expand access to legal services.
Remulla started on the wrong foot after his eldest son, Juanito Jose Remulla III, was arrested for illegal possession of drugs in October 2022, but was acquitted three months later. The incident fueled public calls for his resignation.
But beyond the controversy, Remulla played a key role among top officials in the arrest and turnover of Duterte to the ICC.
On his watch, the DOJ also oversaw the extradition of expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. from Timor-Leste and the return of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, who fled to Indonesia amid allegations linking her to an illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in her town.
In March 2024, Remulla announced that the DOJ would be filing qualified human trafficking, sexual and child abuse cases against Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy.
One of Remulla’s key policy moves was the 2024 issuance of Department Circular No. 15, which raised the quantum of evidence required in preliminary investigations and inquest proceedings from probable cause to prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.
This reform compelled prosecutors to ensure that every case filed had sufficient evidence to establish all elements of the crime and withstand the test of conviction.
Remulla was awarded “Asia’s Outstanding Leader in Public Service” by the Asia’s Influential Leader Awards in February 2024.
The Commission on Audit’s 2023 Report on Salaries and Allowances released in May 2024 showed Remulla received a net pay of P7.08 million for his 12 months as DOJ chief.
Vowing transparency, Remulla said restrictions on access to officials’ statements of assets, liabilities and net worth imposed by his predecessor, Martires, will be lifted, but taking into consideration the Data Privacy Act.
“People can expect transparency and a lot of action…Transparency, more openness from the public,” he told reporters, even expressing openness to a crowdsourcing of information to facilitate investigation of officials.
“I think the people want to know what the Ombudsman is doing. We will explain to them what we are doing so the people will know there is such an office in the government.”
Remulla, who underwent a heart bypass in June 2023, will also be closely watched on his handling of the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation of complaints on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The complaints were based on the findings of the House committee on good government and public accountability.
Remulla cut his teeth in local politics in the family bailiwick in Cavite province.
He served as Cavite 3rd district representative from 2004 to 2010, before winning multiple terms as 7th district representative from 2010 to 2013. He was elected governor from 2016 to 2019, before securing another term at the House from 2019 to 2022, rising to become its senior deputy majority leader.
Before that, he served as assistant secretary at the Office of the President on Joseph Estrada’s watch from 1998 to 2001. He later became the chief of staff of Estrada’s wife, then Sen. Luisa Ejercito Estrada, from 2002 to 2003.
He practiced law as a senior partner at the Remulla and Associates Law Office. —WITH REPORTS FROM JANE BAUTISTA, LUISA CABATO, KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING, CHARIE ABARCA AND INQUIRER RESEARCH
