Remulla is new Ombudsman, vows transparency, expedited corruption cases

October 8 ------ PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as the new Ombudsman, a move that Malacañang said was in line with its “commitment to fight corruption wherever it exists.”

“As Ombudsman, Remulla is expected to uphold transparency, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and ensure that justice is administered fairly and efficiently,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said, reiterating that there will be no sacred cows, no exemptions, and no excuses in holding erring public officials accountable.

“Public office is a public trust, and those who betray it will be held accountable. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirms that transparency, fairness and the rule of law will remain the guiding principles of this administration’s pursuit of a Bagong Pilipinas that truly serves the Filipino people,” he added.

Remulla, who bested six other candidates for the post, succeeds former Supreme Court associate justice Samuel Martires who wrapped up his seven-year term last July. Others who were on the shortlist of candidates submitted to the president on Oct. 6 were former Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Michael Aguinaldo, retired Court of Appeals associate justice Stephen Cruz, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, Deputy Executive Secretary Anna Liza Logan, retired Supreme Court associate justice Mario Lopez, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi.

As head of the Office of the Ombudsman, Remulla will have the power to prosecute, suspend, fire, and even file criminal cases against erring government officials. Gomez dismissed suggestions that Remulla was chosen so he could use his position to go after critics of the president.

“Remember, there is always a very stringent process required under our Constitution, and Secretary Remulla went through the process, and he was vetted by the JBC (Judicial Bar Council) and was appointed by the president. I don’t believe there is a basis to that concern,” the PCO chief said. “We have the highest confidence in Secretary Remulla. He will be very impartial when he assumes his new role as the Ombudsman,” he added.

Before joining the Marcos Cabinet, Remulla served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives during the 15th Congress from 2010 to 2013 and was the senior deputy majority leader in the 18th Congress from 2019 to 2022. He was also governor of Cavite from 2016 to 2019. Remulla became the 59th secretary of the DOJ when the president appointed him in 2022.

Source: manilatimes.net