Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian Speaks on Ombudsman Boying Remulla amid Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s Call To Explain
SHERWIN GATCHALIAN – The Senator came to the defense of Ombudsman Boying Remulla saying he has no intention to “bend the law”.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives launched their own investigations amid the flood control issue in the Philippines. In the case of the lower chamber, it stopped its investigation following the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).
The Senate continued its flood control probe amid the presence of the ICI, the three-member independent commission that was formed upon the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the flood control investigation. The inquiry is led by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The Blue Ribbon Committee has already conducted several flood control hearings. In one of its inquiry, Sen. Erwin Tulfo who was the vice chairman of the panel then confronted then-Department of Justice Secretary Boying Remulla.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo seemingly lectured then-Justice Sec. Boying Remulla asking him if he agrees that sometimes there’s allegedly a need to “bend the law” to please the people. The Senator also stressed that the people are allegedly above the law.
Then-Justice Sec. Boying Remulla agreed with the “bend the law” remarks of Sen. Erwin Tulfo. It earned both of them massive criticisms online. Recently, Minority Sen. Rodante Marcoleta called on the now-Ombudsman Boying Remulla to clarify or apologize for agreeing with Tulfo on the “bend the law” remarks.
“Our people might be misled that it is alright to bend the law. Can he make clarification or public apology for saying that?” the Senator said based on a post of News5 on social media.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian came to the defense of Ombudsman Boying Remulla. According to him, the country’s chief graft-buster is “very strict in not bending the law”.
Based on the post, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian claimed that Ombudsman Boying Remulla allegedly does not intend to bend the law. According to the Senator, it was allegedly only a figure of speech for the Ombudsman.
“The Ombudsman intimated [that] he is very strict in not bending the law. He will abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling… Walang intention to bend the law. Prinsipyo niya ay follow the law at uphold the law. Para lang klaro na itong nasabi nya ay figure of speech,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.
Previously, Sen. Erwin Tulfo clarified his “bend the law” remarks during a Senate flood control hearing.