No Sacred Cows for the Ombudsman
October 7, 2025
The New Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines: Reflections and Projections on Governance and Accountability
Introduction
The appointment of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as the new Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines on October 7, 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s ongoing struggle against graft and corruption. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to elevate a sitting cabinet member signals an intent to align the Office of the Ombudsman more closely with the executive’s broader governance agenda while simultaneously testing the boundaries of institutional independence. This reflective essay examines Remulla’s credentials, anticipated reforms, and the cascading effects his tenure could exert on Philippine governance, civil society engagement, and transitional justice over the next several years.
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Constitutional and Institutional Foundations
The Office of the Ombudsman, enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, serves as the primary independent body tasked with investigating and prosecuting public officials for graft and corruption. Empowered by a seven-year fixed term, the Ombudsman wields prosecutorial authority over high-ranking government officers, including the power to suspend, dismiss, and file criminal charges. This constitutional design aims to insulate the office from political pressure, ensuring accountability flows upward and curbing abuses of public trust.
Historically, the institution has navigated periods of robust action followed by phases of stagnation, depending largely on the institutional ethos of its incumbent and the broader political climate. Under former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, access to Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) was restricted and lifestyle checks were halted, drawing criticism for reducing transparency and weakening preventive mechanisms against illicit enrichment. Remulla inherits both the structural strengths of the office and the deficits accrued under his predecessor.
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Career Trajectory of Jesus Crispin Remulla
Before assuming the role of Ombudsman, Remulla served as Secretary of Justice since July 2022, spearheading reforms aimed at decongesting prisons, modernizing case resolution processes, and broadening legal aid services. His legislative background as a long-time Cavite representative and former governor further underscores a career steeped in both policymaking and regional governance.
Remulla’s elevation required clearance from the very office he was poised to lead, following publicized complaints filed by Senator Imee Marcos concerning his stance on the International Criminal Court’s arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The Ombudsman ultimately junked these complaints, clearing the path for his inclusion on the Judicial and Bar Council’s shortlist and his subsequent appointment by the President. This episode highlighted the intricate interplay between executive prerogative, legislative influences, and judicial-bar oversight.
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Early Reform Agenda and Transparency Commitments
Within days of his confirmation, Remulla signaled intent to reverse restrictive SALN policies and reinstate lifestyle checks, positioning transparency and asset declarations at the forefront of his agenda. Such measures promise to reenergize a key preventive tool: by mandating public officials to disclose wealth under penalty of perjury, the office can more swiftly detect undisclosed assets and curb illicit accumulation.
Additionally, Malacañang’s public statement underscored a zero-tolerance approach—“no sacred cows, no exemptions, and no excuses”—framing the Ombudsman’s mandate as integral to a “Bagong Pilipinas” grounded in rule of law and accountability. This rhetoric aims to restore public trust eroded by past scandals and reinforce the principle that public office is a public trust.
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Institutional Independence and Political Dynamics
Remulla’s transition from cabinet secretary to Ombudsman raises questions about the office’s independence vis-à-vis the executive branch. While a seven-year term theoretically secures tenure security, his prior alignment with the President’s policy priorities could influence case selection and prosecutorial vigor, particularly in politically sensitive investigations.
The JBC’s role in screening and shortlisting candidates is designed to buffer political interference. Yet Remulla’s path—navigating complaints from the President’s own sister—reveals both the strengths and vulnerabilities of current selection mechanisms. Future interactions between the Ombudsman and legislative inquiries, particularly on high-profile corruption probes, will serve as critical barometers of institutional autonomy.
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Reinforcing Anti-Corruption Enforcement
A primary cascading effect of Remulla’s leadership is likely to manifest in more proactive enforcement against anomalous public infrastructure projects. The Independent Commission for Infrastructure has flagged graft, malversation, and falsification charges in large-scale flood control schemes, providing fertile ground for Ombudsman intervention. By prioritizing these cases, the office can signal deterrence, bolster audit-probe coordination, and redefine inter-agency partnerships on asset tracing and money-laundering investigations.
Furthermore, the renewal of lifestyle checks expands the office’s mandate beyond reactive case handling to preventive monitoring. This shift can prompt a cultural transformation within bureaucracy, where officials internalize the possibility of scrutiny at any career stage, thereby cultivating greater compliance and ethical sensitivity.
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Public Trust and Participatory Governance
Public perception of the Ombudsman as an impartial arbiter is crucial for sustaining citizen engagement in governance. Remulla’s pledge to eschew partisan weaponization of the Tanodbayan—education of “too much politics” in case filings—addresses a recurrent public concern about vindictive prosecutions and selective justice. By institutionalizing clear criteria for case acceptance and publication of investigative milestones, the office can invite civic participation, enabling watchdog organizations, journalists, and academic researchers to track progress and hold the office accountable.
Over the next few years, a revitalized Ombudsman office could catalyze a broader participatory governance ecosystem, where transparency begets public oversight, and collective vigilance complements formal legal processes.
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Intersection with Transitional Justice and Collective Memory
For practitioners and scholars of transitional justice, Remulla’s tenure offers an opportunity to integrate the Ombudsman’s investigatory capacity with broader memorial infrastructures and counter-archives. Documenting patterns of administrative malfeasance—especially in contexts of historical impunity—contributes to collective memory and facilitates future reconciliation efforts.
Amiel Roldan's work in an informed premiering and counter-archival practices underscores the importance of rendering evidence not merely as case files but as affective propositions that engage communities in dialogues of accountability and repair. The Ombudsman’s de-classified files, when curated into public exhibits or digital archives, can become catalysts for collective reflection on governance ruptures.
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Challenges and Risks Ahead
Despite optimistic projections, Remulla’s office will confront significant challenges. Resource and capacity constraints may limit the scope and depth of investigations, especially in remote regions where corruption networks can be deeply entrenched. Balancing high-profile cases with routine audits and complaints may stretch prosecutorial teams thin, risking delays that undermine public confidence.
Moreover, residual politicization remains a risk. Critics may question the impartiality of probes involving allies of the current administration, while opposition figures may decry perceived selective justice. The Ombudsman will need robust safeguards—transparent procedural protocols, external review panels, and regular public reporting—to mitigate these perceptions.
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Regional and International Implications
On the international stage, a reinvigorated Ombudsman office can strengthen the Philippines’ standing in the fight against corruption, contributing to ASEAN integrity networks and global anti-corruption indices. Active cooperation with bodies like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Manila-based Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering can facilitate joint trainings, mutual legal assistance, and cross-border investigations.
Furthermore, renewed commitment to transparent governance may improve investor confidence, attracting foreign direct investment by reducing perceived risk of graft in project approvals and public bidding processes.
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Prospects for Long-Term Institutional Culture Change
Remulla’s seven-year fixed term extends through 2032, offering a rare window for strategic, medium- to long-term institutional reforms. Key prospects include:
- Establishing specialized anti-corruption divisions within the Ombudsman, complete with forensic audit, cyber-investigation, and asset recovery units.
- Implementing a digital complaints and case-tracking platform to enhance accessibility, reduce corruption in intake processes, and enable real-time public updates.
- Developing a comprehensive training academy for investigators and prosecutors, embedding principles of trauma-informed interviewing and ethical governance.
- Strengthening partnerships with academic institutions to incorporate empirical studies on corruption trends and policy effectiveness.
These embedded reforms can outlast any single tenure, fostering an organizational culture that prizes proactive prevention as much as punitive accountability.
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Conclusion
The ascension of Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla to the Office of the Ombudsman inaugurates a consequential chapter in Philippine governance. His blend of prosecutorial energy, reformist rhetoric, and political acumen has the potential to recalibrate anti-corruption enforcement, restore public trust, and contribute to collective memory of administrative justice. Yet success hinges on navigating complex power dynamics, resource limitations, and risks of politicization.
Over the next several years, the cascading effects of Remulla’s tenure will reverberate across institutional independence, participatory governance, and transitional justice frameworks. Observers and stakeholders will closely monitor whether the Ombudsman can translate the promise of “no sacred cows” into a sustained campaign against impunity, thereby forging a deeper legacy of accountability and institutional integrity.
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Amiel Gerald Roldan
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Amiel Gerald A. Roldan: a multidisciplinary Filipino artist, poet, researcher, and cultural worker whose practice spans painting, printmaking, photography, installation, academic writing, and trauma-informed mythmaking. He is deeply rooted in cultural memory, postcolonial critique, and speculative cosmology, and in bridging creative practice with scholarly infrastructure—building counter-archives, annotating speculative poetry like Southeast Asian manuscripts, and fostering regional solidarity through ethical collaboration.
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