Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on DOJ Chief Boying Remulla’s Application for Ombudsman
IMEE MARCOS – The Senator claimed that she will stand against the appointment of Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Boying Remulla as Ombudsman for the Dutertes.
The Office of the Ombudsman is now led by former Court of Appeals Justice Mariflor Punzalan-Castillo who was appointed as the acting Ombudsman following the retirement of former Ombudsman Samuel Matires. It was last July 27, 2025 when Martires who was appointed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte retired.
The application period for the position of Ombudsman was set by the Judicial and Bar Council or JBC. One of the those who filed an application for the position of Ombudsman was Justice Sec. Boying Remulla. According to the DOJ Chief, he believes that he has a lot to offer to the office.
The Ombudsman’s Office is an independent body that investigates the alleged illegal activities of the government officials. The next Ombudsman will be appointed by the sitting president, Pres. Bongbong Marcos, based on the short list consisting of at least three (3) candidates screened by the JBC.
According to Remulla, he has already informed Marcos Jr. about his application for Ombudsman. He is one of the Cabinet secretaries that the President chose to retain in their office after he previously called for a “courtesy resignation” among his Cabinet secretaries. The Justice Secretary claimed that he is confident that the DOJ will be in good hands if he will be appointed as the next Ombudsman.
However, ahead of any decision with regards to the position, presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos claimed that she will stand against the appointment of DOJ Sec. Boying Remulla as Ombudsman. According to her, if Remulla is appointed as the next chief graft buster, he might allegedly be used in another persecution against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the Duterte family.
Sen. Imee Marcos is visibly on the side of the Dutertes amid the controversial arrest and the transfer of custody of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. Amid the heavy criticisms, Pres. Bongbong Marcos and the Palace stressed that the government only acted on the arrest in lieu of its commitment with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
In the Senate, the presidential Sister launched an investigation on the unexpected turn of events last March 11 that brought former Pres. Duterte to the ICC detention facility in The Hague. Sen. Imee Marcos filed charges before the Ombudsman versus the people who were allegedly involved in Duterte’s arrest. One of them is Justice Sec. Boying Remulla who, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, plans to make changes on existing rules about the government officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth if he is appointed to the position.
According to Marcos, she will use the criminal and administrative charges against Remulla in blocking his appointment for the position of Ombudsman. The Presidential Sister also claimed that the allegations against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will allegedly be intensified in 2027 to block her presidential bid.
Amid the several instances of siding with the Dutertes, Sen. Imee Marcos claimed that she has nothing personal and there’s “no family feud” between her and Pres. Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.