“I’m not giving up on my application,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday night amid reports that he was disqualified by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) due to his pending case in connection with the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and the latter’s eventual flight to The Hague, Netherlands.

Remulla, who is vying to replace Ombudsman Samuel Martires upon his retirement in October, said he has no intention of withdrawing from the selection process despite the reported JBC action. He did not confirm whether the JBC had formally informed him of the alleged decision but stressed that he would continue to pursue the post.

The reported disqualification stems from a complaint filed against Remulla over his role in the Duterte arrest operation and the former president’s escape from custody, which led to his arrival in the Netherlands, where proceedings before the International Criminal Court are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille L. Ting, in a statement, clarified:

"In response to some of your queries on whether the JBC disqualified SOJ Remulla from the Ombudsman position, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has not yet commenced the vetting process, as the official list of applicants under consideration has yet to be published."