Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla was included in the list of 17 applicants to the vacant Ombudsman post, which was released by the Judicial and Bar Council.

This is despite earlier claims that the JBC had disqualified Remulla from the Ombudsman post due to a pending case against him, pending with the Ombudsman, in connection with the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague.

But Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting clarified that the JBC has not yet started its formal vetting process for aspirants to the position of Ombudsman.

Atty. Ting issued the statement following a report that the JBC had already disqualified Remulla.

Remulla was listed 14th on the list, which was posted by the JBC on their official Facebook page.

Also, the JBC runs a survey entitled “We want to hear from you!” stating, “We welcome your thoughts, concerns, or comments about the applicants for the position of Ombudsman" as it urged the public to click the link https://jbc.judiciary.gov.ph/jbc-survey/ and take the survey before 4:30 p.m. of 26 August 2025.

Aside from Remulla, those who applied are SC Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, retired SC Associate Justice Mario Lopez, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi.

Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Bautista Gler Corpin Jr., retired CA Associate Justice and incumbent Philippine Postal Corp. Chairman Stephen Cruz, Daraga, Albay Municipal Trial Court Judge Jason Rodenas, and retired Laoag City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Benjamin Turgano; former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares; former Commission on Audit Chairman and incumbent Philippine Competition Commission Chairman Michael Aguinaldo; Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Beda Epres; Deputy Executive Secretary Lisa Logan; Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for External, Legal and Legislative Affairs Romeo Benitez; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairman and retired Marikina RTC Judge Felix Reyes; PDP-Laban Secretary-General Melvin Matibag; and Jonie Caroche, a member of the Philippine National Police – Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.