Remulla vows impartial justice to mark first 100 days as Ombudsman

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

Ombudsman Crispin Jesus Remulla. “These first one hundred days set the tone. The work will continue — decisive, impartial, and anchored on the people’s trust,” Remulla said in a statement. From the outset of his term, Remulla made clear that the fight against corruption would be pursued without fear or favor. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – Crispin Jesus Remulla on Monday marked his first 100 days as the country’s seventh Ombudsman, vowing unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the swift and impartial administration of justice.

“These first one hundred days set the tone. The work will continue — decisive, impartial, and anchored on the people’s trust,” Remulla said in a statement.

From the outset of his term, Remulla made clear that the fight against corruption would be pursued without fear or favor.

Guided by the principle that there are “no sacred cows, no exemptions, and no excuses,” he directed the Office of the Ombudsman toward decisive institutional reforms and concrete action on long-standing and high-impact cases.

Within his first week in office, Ombudsman Remulla issued Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2025, strengthening lawful public access to Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).

The policy enhances transparency while respecting due process and existing laws and expressly allows public access even without the consent of the public official concerned, subject to legal safeguards. A clear, step-by-step guide for SALN requests has likewise been made publicly available.

He said the Office has also intensified case buildup, investigation and prosecution efforts, particularly for long-pending and high-impact cases.

“Close coordination with law enforcement agencies has been strengthened, allowing prosecutors to engage from the earliest stages of investigation to ensure strong, constitutionally sound cases,” he said.

In line with public concern, the Ombudsman has prioritized the investigation of flood control projects nationwide, resulting in the filing of graft and malversation charges in connection with substandard and ghost projects in several provinces.

To bring accountability closer to the ground, the Resident Ombudsman Program has been revived, enabling immediate fact-finding and faster action in agencies identified as high-risk for corruption. The Environmental Ombudsman Program has likewise been re-established, targeting corruption linked to environmental violations and holding both public officials and private individuals accountable when acting in conspiracy.

Institutional reforms have also been pursued following the issuance of the Revised Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman “to reduce delays, clarify processes, and strengthen due process, including firm timelines for fact-finding investigations.”

He said partnerships were expanded, including a landmark Memorandum of Agreement with the Anti-Red Tape Authority to combat bureaucratic inefficiency and improve ease of doing business.

Looking ahead, the Ombudsman has committed to full digitization of services, expanded online filing and payment systems, workforce augmentation with the opening of new lawyer positions and continuous personnel training.