Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla assumed leadership of the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, October 7, facing growing challenges to restore transparency and rebuild public trust in the country’s top anti-corruption institution.
He replaced Samuel Martires, whose term drew criticism for limiting public access to government officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).
Advocates for good governance said Martires’ policy weakened public scrutiny and eroded institutional transparency.
Remulla inherited an office with broad constitutional powers to investigate, prosecute, and discipline public officials accused of graft and misconduct.
As Ombudsman, he now directs one of the government’s strongest accountability mechanisms, with authority to suspend, dismiss, or file criminal charges against erring personnel.
He steps into the role as the administration intensifies its crackdown on alleged corruption in flood control projects nationwide. Remulla is eyed to investigate and ensure that accountability reaches those involved in the misuse of public funds.
His path to the post faced controversy after Senator Imee Marcos filed administrative and criminal complaints against him over the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) probe into former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The Ombudsman dismissed the cases last month, enabling him to qualify for the Judicial and Bar Council’s shortlist.
Remulla served as Justice Secretary since 2022 and previously held key elective positions as Cavite governor and representative of the province’s 7th District.
His term as Ombudsman runs until 2032. As he takes the helm, Remulla faces the test of proving that the institution can pursue integrity and accountability without fear or favor — and rebuild public faith in clean, transparent governance.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.