Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla called on the judiciary to undergo deep introspection and submit to government-wide review to address systemic inefficiencies hindering the country’s legal process.
Speaking during a subcommittee hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance on the proposed 2027 budget for the Office of the Ombudsman, Remulla responded to an inquiry from Senate President Win Gatchalian regarding legal mechanisms available to address corrupt local officials.
Remulla confirmed his office holds the statutory authority to remove delinquent barangay leaders, provided a substantiated complaint is backed by willing witnesses.
However, Remulla voiced frustration over a pattern within the appellate courts of reversing anti-graft rulings, noting that Court of Appeals decisions frequently nullify Ombudsman dismissal orders.
”That is a trend, Your Honor, that’s known to the whole office of the Ombudsman. It’s something that I spoke about to Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. I told him about this problem that we have. Because institutionally, it’s very discouraging to be conducting all of these activities only to be reversed by the Court of Appeals decision that came out of nowhere,” he said.
Remulla described judicial performance as the most pressing yet unspoken issue within the country’s legal system, urging systemic review across all branches of government.
”The judiciary has to be examined closely by everybody in government, and they themselves should go on a soul-searching so that we can be a better country. I think that that’s one of the problems besetting us right now,” he said.
When asked about institutional coordination to streamline justice administration, Remulla cited his former tenure as Justice Secretary, highlighting the Justice Sector Coordinating Council—a multi-agency framework previously supported by the European Union.
He advocated for a similar collaborative mechanism involving the Ombudsman to accelerate judicial processes.
”If there’s one thing that was never touched with all the EDSAs that happened to this country, it’s the judiciary. Never has the judiciary accounted for everything that they’ve been doing,” Remulla said.
He emphasized that prolonged legal disputes damage economic growth and deter potential investors due to procedural uncertainty.
”Something that we have to examine as a country because when businessmen come in to invest and create jobs and give progress to the country, when a case is thrown, and a monkey wrench is thrown into the business, there’s no certainty that the case will be finished within a certain amount of time,” he added.
Remulla stated that his motivation for addressing the issue publicly stems from his lack of further political ambition, acknowledging that his candid remarks might cause tension among senior legal figures.
”I’m daring to do this, Your Honor, because I have no more aspirations. This is the job I want for myself and for the country to be able to finish this job, Your Honor. And that’s why things that have been left unsaid are being said now, because it has to happen,” he said.
”I’m sure that I have distressed our Chief Justice many times with my remarks. But it has to happen. It has to be done, Your Honor. I’m doing this at great risk, probably, to many lawyers. They will not even think about doing something like this,” he added.
He concluded that open public discussion is necessary so the country can understand “what ails us and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel if we really look at it.”