Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Saturday criticized several members of the Senate, accusing them of prematurely focusing on the 2028 elections rather than addressing critical national and international matters impacting Filipinos.
While Remulla declined to name the specific lawmakers he believed were already engaging in early campaigning, he emphasized during a televised interview that legislators must redirect their focus toward their immediate mandates.
He noted that crucial areas requiring urgent attention include the state of the economy, the welfare of Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East.
“Masyado sila nakatingin sa 2028. Ngayon madaming problema ang bayan. ‘Yun muna. Tsaka na yung 2028. Do your duty, perform. Ganon lang ‘yan,” Remulla stated.
They are looking too much toward 2028. The country has many problems right now. Attend to those first. Deal with 2028 later. Do your duty, perform. It is as simple as that.
The Ombudsman also took aim at politicians who allegedly prioritize public posturing over actual, substantive legislation, warning that the public is growing weary of superficial politics.
“If you will not perform, don’t japorm. Ayaw ng tao ng porma nang porma,” he added, utilizing local slang to call out empty vanity.
If you will not perform, do not just strike a pose. The people do not want someone who is all show.
Remulla expressed disappointment over what he characterized as a distinct lack of deep, intellectual discourse within the upper chamber regarding pressing local and global developments.
“Wala naman akong naririnig na privilege speeches nila about the crisis in the Middle East, about the plight of OFWs, the economy. Nawawalan ng intellectual content,” Remulla lamented. “Lagyan naman nila ng intellectual content, debatable propositions para magisip naman ang tao kung anong dapat gawin. How to cope with the realities of today.”
I do not hear any privilege speeches from them about the crisis in the Middle East, about the plight of OFWs, the economy. It is losing intellectual content. They should inject intellectual content and debatable propositions so that the people are prompted to think about what needs to be done—how to cope with the realities of today.
Remulla concluded by reminding the lawmakers that the constitution and the public expect senators to act as senior statesmen capable of steering the country through complex difficulties. He warned that if the body fails to live up to this expectation, it may validate calls to abolish the bicameral legislature entirely.
“Kaya natin sinasabi ‘yan kasi gusto natin ang mga senators mabigyan ng benefit of the doubt na they are important to the country. Otherwise, kung ganyan lang, mag-unicameral na lang tayo kung ‘di kaya dalhin ang responsibilidad na maging senior statesman,” he warned. “Ang image ng senator sa talagang intent of the law, these are the wise men of the country. Dapat matatalinong tao ‘yan na talagang marunong tumingin sa problema, pati maayos, very mature. Kaya tama na ‘yung mga ganong asal.”
We are saying this because we want senators to be given the benefit of the doubt that they are important to the country. Otherwise, if that is all they can do, let us just shift to a unicameral system if they cannot carry the responsibility of being a senior statesman. The image of a senator in the true intent of the law is that they are the wise men of the country. They should be intelligent people who truly know how to look at a problem and fix it, very maturely. So that kind of behavior needs to stop.
The Philippines is scheduled to hold its next synchronized national and local elections in May 2028.