There’s ambition, and then there’s obsession. Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s fixation on becoming the next Ombudsman has crossed into the latter—and the nation deserves to ask why.
The Ombudsman is not a consolation prize for political loyalty. It is a constitutional office tasked with investigating and prosecuting public officials accused of wrongdoing. It demands unimpeachable integrity, not political maneuvering. Yet here we are, watching the sitting Justice Secretary campaign—quietly but aggressively—for a post that requires him to be above reproach, while he himself faces unresolved complaints.
Let’s be clear: Remulla is not just applying for a job. He is seeking to become the country’s top anti-corruption watchdog while under scrutiny for his role in the controversial arrest and expulsion of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte’s criminal and administrative complaints are now docketed. The Ombudsman has formally acknowledged them. And still, Remulla presses on.
Why the urgency? Why the deflection? Why the narrative that these complaints are mere “forum shopping,” as if the legal process were a nuisance rather than a safeguard?
This is not about political rivalry. It’s about institutional credibility. The Ombudsman must be beyond suspicion—not just legally, but morally. The very idea that a candidate with pending cases could be considered for the role undermines the office’s purpose. It sends a dangerous message: that power can be shielded by proximity to justice, rather than held accountable by it.
Remulla’s defenders argue that he is qualified, experienced, and capable. But qualifications mean little when the public trust is eroded. Capability without credibility is a hollow promise. And ambition without accountability is a threat to democratic institutions.
If Remulla truly respects the office he seeks, he should withdraw his candidacy until the complaints against him are resolved with finality. Not because his critics demand it, but because the Ombudsman deserves a leader who understands that justice begins with example.
This is not a call for resignation. It is a call for reflection. The Filipino people deserve an Ombudsman who embodies the very standards they are sworn to uphold. Anything less is not just a disservice—it’s a betrayal
