Asked To Comment, Malacañang Says Marcos Jr. Not Obligated to Seek Permission over Ombudsman’s Moves
Malacañang asserted the independence of the Ombudsman on the plan of Ombudsman Boying Remulla to revisit the drug war cases during the term of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
The Office of the Ombudsman is now under a new lead after Pres. Bongbong Marcos appointed former Department of Justice chief Boying Remulla as Ombudsman. He succeeded former Ombudsman Samuel Martires who retired in July.
Remulla was chosen by Marcos Jr. from a shortlist of seven applicants for Ombudsman submitted by the Judiciary and Bar Council (JBC). Initially, there were 17 applicants but only 7 made it to the shortlist submitted to the President.
Undeniably, the appointment of Ombudsman Boying Remulla was controversial. Presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos even threw a question to Pres. Bongbong Marcos asking him if he is really serious about appointing Remulla to be the country’s Ombudsman.
Sen. Imee Marcos previously claimed that she will block the appointment of Remulla as Ombudsman. According to her, the position might supposedly be used against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and her family.
Following his appointment, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he will reopen and study the complaints filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He also plans to revisit the Pharmally case, a supposed corruption during the term of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Ombudsman Boying Remulla also claimed that he will revisit the drug war cases during the term of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Malacañang was asked to comment about it. Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro asserted the independence of the Ombudsman.
“Ang Ombudsman po kasi ay isang independent body, constitutional body so … hindi po nila kailangang mag-report sa Pangulo kung ano po ang gagawin nilang mga aksyon para po sa pagtugis sa mga maaaring may sala na mga public officials,” Castro said.
Based on the report, the Malacañang press official also expressed that if the Ombudsman will need the assistance of the law enforcement agencies, help will be provided. According to Castro, it is not within the President’s control to seek permission over what the country’s chief graft-buster plans to do.
“Kung ano po ang kakailanganing tulong ng Ombudsman sa mga law enforcement agencies to get the—let’s say data or facts or reports ay ‘yun naman po ay ipagkakaloob pero para po ipagpaalam pa ng Pangulo kung ano ang gagawin ng Ombudsman ay hindi po saklaw ng Pangulo ang anumang aksyon ang gagawin ng Ombudsman,” the Malacañang press official said.
Recently, after the ruling of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires junking the dismissal order against Sen. Joel Villanueva crossed the surface, Ombudsman Boying Remulla stressed that he is not done in the case of Villanueva.