Senators welcome Remulla's appointment as Ombudsman
Published Oct 8, 2025 02:11 pm
At A Glance
- Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Jesus Crispin Remulla "is the tribune and protector of the people, fearless in the search for truth and justice."
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla (Facebook)
“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,” Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in an interview with reporters.
“I welcome Sec. Boying Remulla's transition from DOJ Secretary to Ombudsman. He is the tribune and protector of the people, fearless in the search for truth and justice,” Sotto said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also said Remulla’s appointment as the new Ombudsman comes at a time when the nation is confronting serious corruption challenges.
“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,” Gatchalian said.
“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,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, on the other hand, said he believes Remulla should be given a clean slate.
“It’s a clean slate for me. Give Remulla a clean slate then let’s keep an eye on what he will do. Congratulations to him. Just follow your oath,” Cayetano said in a press briefing.
“I believe that all people have talent….it’s tough when it comes to judiciary, COA (Commission on Audit), Ombudsman, once you take an oath, it all depends on you,” he added.
“So if you allow yourself to be used in politics, if you have a group or if you have a personal agenda, you can do that. But that’s your call, that’s your conscience,” he said.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” 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 unusual for Remulla to announce he will prioritize investigations into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds.
“With so many problems facing the country today, especially the problem on ghost flood control projects, why is his first order of the day is already focused on VP Sara Duterte?” Dela Rosa pointed out in a radio interview.
Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos was the only senator who vocally rejected Remulla’s appointment as Ombudsman.
“I’ve said this before, they failed with their Plan A which is the People’s Initiative, they failed on Plan B or the impeachment of the vice president, now Plan C is the Ombudsman,” she said.
“For now, I can only think about the safety of the life of VP Sara,” Marcos said.
“I truly believe what we need now is the People’s Ombudsman. Somebody credible, believable and who could not be influenced,” she said.