Ombudsman bares leukemia treatment after quintuple bypass
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has revealed that he was diagnosed with leukemia after undergoing a quintuple bypass heart surgery in 2023.
In an interview with journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdez on Oct. 24, Remulla disclosed his health issues which arose while he was serving as justice secretary.
President Marcos appointed Remulla to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in July 2022, then named him Ombudsman on Oct. 7 even amid the health issues now disclosed by the former justice chief.
“In 2023, I was diagnosed with a heart condition that required a bypass. I had a quintuple bypass, and while I was recovering, I was diagnosed this time with leukemia,” Remulla said in his interview.
Remulla said he has since recovered from the cancer after undergoing two cycles of chemotherapy, total body radiation, and a bone marrow transplant to produce healthy blood cells.
“My blood now is not my old blood. It is blood from my son. We are a full match, that’s how I recovered and the prognosis looks good,” the Ombudsman said.
In 2023, Remulla went on a 10-day wellness leave at the DOJ for “personal reasons” and later disclosed that he had a bypass.
