"The impunity of corruption started when the Ombudsman fell silent."

With no Ombudsman prosecutors investigating cases of corruption and no one looking into their dealings, the crooks were emboldened to carry out their “kalokohan” (foolishness), new Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said.

Remulla was the guest last Oct. 24 during the program "Usapang Real with Luchi" which is hosted by veteran journalist Luchi Cruz Valdes.

He said that when he was the secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), someone wanted to interfere with the Bureau of Immigration's (BI's) project to expand and upgrade its electronic immigration gates (e-gates) that was budgeted at P1.96 billion.

"Nakaramdam ako na meron may gusto makialam sa mga bagay na hindi dapat pinakikialaman na importante sa bansa natin. Hindi ko na matiis yun. (There was someone who wanted to interfere in things that are important to our country that shouldn't be interfered with. I couldn't stand it anymore)," he said.

"Gusto niya dekwatin ang kontrata na para sa taungbayan (That person wanted to get the contract that was for the people)," Remulla explained.

"It was supplier driven, pinipilit nilang ilagay in terms of preference na sila lang ang papasa sa bidding. Hindi pwede yun eh (They were forcing to put in terms of preference that they will be the only ones to pass the bidding. That's not allowed)," he said.

Remulla did not name the person involved. But he said: "Secretary of Justice na ako, napapasok pa ako. What more ang iba? (I was already Secretary of Justice, but I was still being meddled with. What more than the others?)" he stressed.

"They do it because they can do it," he said. "That kind of impunity has to stop," he declared.

President Marcos plucked Remulla out of the DOJ and appointed him Ombudsman last Oct. 7.

Remulla took over the post vacated last July 27 by then Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires who served the post for seven years.

The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) was created in 1989 under Republic Act No. 6770.

Under RA 6770, among the OMB’s functions are “to investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient.”

The OMB “has primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and, in the exercise of his primary jurisdiction, it may take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of government, the investigation of such cases under Section 15(1) RA 6770 and Section 13(1), Article XI, of the Constitution.”