Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on Vacant Post for New Ombudsman
IMEE MARCOS – The presidential sister and Senator claimed that she will block Justice Secretary Boying Remulla from getting the Ombudsman post for the Duterte family.
Former Ombudsman Samuel Martires who was appointed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte into the position retired from his post on July 27, 2025. He was immediately replaced by former Court of Appeals Justice Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo as the appointed acting Ombudsman.
The application period for the position of Ombudsman has expired. One of those who filed is application for Ombudsman was Department of Justice chief Boying Remulla. According to him, he has a lot to offer to the office.
Remulla is one of the Cabinet secretaries of Pres. Bongbong Marcos who was retained in the position after the Chief Executive called for a “courtesy resignation: among his Cabinet secretaries. The order of the President was in line for his pursuit to align the government to the demands of the people.
According to DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla, he has informed Marcos Jr. about his application for Ombudsman. It will be the President who will appoint the next Ombudsman based on the shortlist of at least three (3) candidates that will be submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to him.
Remulla claimed that he is confident that the DOJ will be in good hands if he will be appointed as the next Ombudsman. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, if he will be appointed as the chief graft buster, he plans to overturn the circular with regards to the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of the government officials.
However, according to presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos, she will block Justice Sec. Boying Remulla from getting the position of Ombudsman. The office is an independent body that probes complaints against the government officials. She visibly wants to protect the Duterte family in her move.
Sen. Imee Marcos has sided with the Duterte family in the issue of the arrest and the transfer of the custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. The transfer of the former President’s custody to the ICC earned her brother, Pres. Bongbong Marcos, and the government countless criticisms from the Duterte supporters.
Sen. Imee Marcos led an investigation in the Senate over the arrest and the transfer of custody of former Pres. Duterte to the ICC. She also submitted a copy of the findings of her probe to the Ombudsman and called on the office to investigate some of the officials involved in the unexpected turn of events last March 11. One of them is Justice Sec. Boying Remulla.
According to the Senator, Remulla will allegedly be used as Ombudsman in the supposed persecution against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the other members of the family of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte. The Presidential Sister also claimed that the allegations against the Vice President will allegedly be intensified in 2027 to block the presidential run of the younger Duterte.
Sen. Imee Marcos claimed that she will use the pending criminal and administrative charges against DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla in blocking his appointment for Ombudsman. Previously, it was reported that the Ombudsman investigates the Confidential Funds issue against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.