Senators, civic leaders weigh in on new Ombudsman
Several senators have welcomed the appointment of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as the new Ombudsman.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III believes Remulla’s extensive experience in the field of investigation will work to his advantage in his new post.
“It’s a big deal that he has a vast background in investigation at the Department of Justice (DOJ), and he will bring it with him at the Ombudsman,” Sotto told reporters.
“He is the tribune and protector of the people, fearless in the search for truth and justice,” he added.
Decisive, impartial action
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Remulla’s appointment comes at a particularly crucial time for the country.
“As a former justice secretary, he brings with him extensive knowledge of the country’s major corruption cases and the workings of our justice system. The nation now looks to him for decisive and impartial action in the fight against corruption,” he said in a statement.
“This appointment should send a clear signal that corruption, abuse of power, and other forms of misconduct have no place in government and that restoring public trust begins with holding everyone, regardless of rank, accountable under the law,” added Gatchalian.
Sen. Alan Cayetano likewise approved of Remulla’s appointment, but urged the public to watch him closely.
“Give Boying Remulla a clean slate, then let’s keep an eye on what he will do,” Cayetano said in a press briefing.
Dissenting voices
Sen. Imee Marcos dissented from her peers and questioned the move of her brother, President Marcos, to appoint Remulla.
“I think what we need is a People’s Ombudsman—one who is credible, trustworthy, and one who is not an accomplice of anybody,” she said.
Remulla’s was a “forced appointment of a person who is unqualified, has pending cases, and is tainted with injustice,” she added.
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa also said he has no problem with Remulla taking over the Office of the Ombudsman since it is the prerogative of the President.
However, Dela Rosa said he finds it strange for Remulla to announce he would prioritize investigations into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.
“Why is his first order of the day already focused on VP Sara Duterte? Why not focus on the anomalous flood control projects?,” Dela Rosa asked in a radio interview.
‘Nothing should be ignored’
For its part, Malacañang expressed confidence on Wednesday that Remulla would fulfill his mandate as Ombudsman for the interest of the entire country and not just for a select few—not even for 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 Remulla’s focus will be on investigating the cases against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“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 stressed.
Involve the public
Meanwhile, professor Roland Simbulan, vice chair of the public policy center Center for People Empowerment in Governance, told the Inquirer on Wednesday that Remulla had a “good track record” as justice secretary, so “all he has to do is continue doing what he’s supposed to do at the Ombudsman.”
Remulla has pledged to establish a press office at the Office of the Ombudsman so he can conduct regular interviews with the media and provide updates on the pending cases in his new office.
Simbulan said that while this is a welcome move, Remulla should also involve the citizenry in the fight against corruption by providing updates on ongoing investigations to anticorruption organizations.
“You cannot just initiate successful institutional reforms for the citizens by yourself. You can only do that if you have the people by your side,” he pointed out.
Challenge for Remulla
For veteran activist and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, one of the organizers of the Sept. 21 anticorruption rallies in Manila, Remulla should disprove the “popular notion” that appointees were only meant to protect the President and even their allies.
“The challenge for Ombudsman Remulla is to prosecute everyone involved in corruption starting with the highest officials of the land,” Casiño said. “This includes the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, members of the House and Senate, other executive officials and their conspirators in the private sector.”
Remulla should embody the protest call that all those involved should be held accountable, Casiño said.
“‘Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot, maging sino ka man.’ That should be his mantra,” he stressed.
And “if he wants the people to help him go after the corrupt, publishing the SALNs is the first step,” Casiño added.
