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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Impunity at its highest point': Ombudsman Remulla slams politicians who are contractors

'Impunity at its highest point': Ombudsman Remulla slams politicians who are contractors

Published Aug 10, 2026 06:33 pm
(JEL SANTOS/MB FILE PHOTO)
(JEL SANTOS/MB FILE PHOTO)
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has criticized politicians who are also contractors, calling the practice “impunity at its highest point.”
He warned that public office should not be used to serve an official’s personal interests.
“‘Yung (The) ‘Cong-tractors’—it’s impunity at its highest point,” Remulla said during a press briefing in Cebu on Monday, Aug. 10.
“When the people who are supposed to make the law break the law,” he added.
According to Remulla, such practice must be stopped, as he also raised the issue of mayors who are contractors.
“It’s something that we have to stop from happening already,” he said.
“‘Pag ‘yung iyong mayor, ‘pag iyong congressman, parehong contractor, paano na tayong lahat niyan? (If your mayor and your congressman are both contractors, what will happen to all of us?)” he said.
The Ombudsman warned that holding public office could lose its purpose when personal business interests become the motivation for entering government.
“We know that it becomes the motivation for public service. It’s not anymore public service; it’s service to yourself,” said Remulla.
“Eh, ba’t ka pa nagpupunta diyan? Why are you taking that office if that’s your only aim—to serve yourself? (Then why are you even going there? Why are you taking that office if that’s your only aim—to serve yourself?)” he added.
Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman is looking at conflict-of-interest issues involving public officials across the country.
“Ang talagang tinitingnan dyan: conflict of interest everywhere in the country. We start with that. (What we are really looking at there is conflict of interest everywhere in the country. We start with that),” he said.
The Ombudsman then urged government officials to uphold decency in public service by staying out of the contracting business while in office.
“We have to return to decency. Sana naman maging disente ‘yung ating mga kasama sa gobyerno. (We have to return to decency. I hope our colleagues in government will be decent),” Remulla said.

Related Tags

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla Boying Remulla Cong-tractors Conflict of interest Public office Government contractors Cebu press briefing
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