Statement of Ombudsman Remulla on Leukemia Diagnosis during Stint as DOJ Chief
Ombudsman Remulla revealed that following his quintuple heart bypass surgery in 2023, he was diagnosed with leukemia and received treatment.
The Office of the Ombudsman is one of the government entities that countless Filipinos hope would fast-track the process for the resolution of the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the country. It is now under a new lead.
President Bongbong Marcos appointed former Justice Secretary Boying Remulla as Ombudsman. He was one of the applicants for Ombudsman in the shortlist submitted by the Judiciary and Bar Council (JBC) to the President. Undeniably, there were already expectations that Remulla will be the next chief graft-buster of the country.
However, truth be told that the appointment of Ombudsman Remulla was received differently by the Filipino people. According to presidential sister and Senator Imee Marcos, following Remulla’s appointment, she is thinking about the safety of the life of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. She previously claimed that she will block Remulla’s appointment as the position might allegedly be used against the Dutertes.
Prior to taking his oath of office, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that he will reopen the complaints filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte over the alleged misuse of her confidential funds. The Vice President remains questioned about the controversial spending of the P625 million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
Aside from revisiting the complaints against the Vice President, the newly-appointed Ombudsman vowed to fast-track the legal process in the flood control issue and he also recently lifted the restrictions on public access to the government officials’ Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
Recently, Ombudsman Remulla revealed that he was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the blood, when he was still the Justice secretary. Based on a report on GMA News, the country’s chief graft-buster revealed that it was after a heart surgery in 2023 when his cancer battle started.
“Nung 2023, na-diagnose ako sa puso na kailangan ko ng bypass, so nagpa-opera ako, nagkaroon ako ng quintuple bypass, open heart, at noong pagaling na ako ay na-diagnose naman ako ng cancer, leukemia, cancer ng dugo,” he said.
Ombudsman Remulla also revealed that he received treatment for leukemia and the prognosis looks good. He had two cycles of chemotherapy and body irradiation and he also had a bone marrow transplant from his child who is his “full match”.
“Full match kami kaya naka-recover ako at mukhang maganda naman ang prognosis… Siguro meron lang ano, meron lang talagang ano sa akin na marahil, may iba pa akong gagawin sa mundo kaya tuloy tuloy ang aking paggaling,” Ombudsman Remulla said.
Based on the report, Remulla admitted that there are still a lot of challenges after his treatment from leukemia but he continues. He lives “just by the day”.
Amid his new position and the calls to reopen the complaints against the Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Ombudsman Boying Remulla was asked about the possibility of charges against the Vice President.