A herculean job for Crispin Remulla

The appointment of Crispin Remulla as the new Ombudsman comes at a critical juncture. He steps into an office whose credibility had been deeply scarred by his predecessor, Samuel Martires, and ascends to a role that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has framed as pivotal in the renewed fight against corruption.

The bar for improvement in the Office of the Ombudsman is, well, low. Samuel Martires’ tenure was marked by a systematic dismantling of transparency, most egregiously through Memorandum Circular 1, which effectively locked away the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) of public officials.

By reversing a longstanding tradition of public access and making SALNs contingent on the declarant’s consent, Martires transformed the Ombudsman from a custodian of justice into a guardian of secrecy.

The move, widely seen as a measure to protect former president Rodrigo Duterte, was a “black mark” that fundamentally betrayed the office’s anti-corruption mandate. It created a sanctuary for powerful officials, insulating them from the public scrutiny that SALNs are designed to provide.

On the part of Remulla, his appointment is being met with skepticism, especially when we recall the swift acquittal of his son, Juanito Jose Remulla III, who was apprehended with over a million pesos worth of high-grade marijuana or kush, an illegal drug under Philippine law. This, when Remulla had just been appointed Justice Secretary by President Marcos Jr.

Yes, he did publicly distance himself from his son’s case, but there will always be the perception — fair or not — that he, as the Secretary of Justice, may have put pressure on the enforcement agencies handling the case.

That, and the son’s swift acquittal based by the court on lapses in law enforcement procedures in his arrest by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

But that was then, and now Crispin Remulla has been designated Ombudsman. As such, he will investigate and prosecute public officials for graft, corruption, and illegal or unjust acts, and protect the people from abuses of power.

President Marcos’ call to end corruption in flood control projects — where members of Congress were implicated — puts immense political pressure on Remulla. To be effective, he must be willing to investigate and prosecute administration allies, and powerful legislators.

While Remulla’s career is deeply rooted in political mechanics, he, as Ombudsman, must operate as a check on power, not as an extension of it.

His close ties to the current administration may suggest a continuation of a politicized Ombudsman, one that would be more active in going after the political opponents of the ruling coalition rather than enforcing a uniform standard of accountability.

While Remulla has the opportunity to reverse the regressive policies of Martires and restore public access to SALNs, his capacity to do “better” will be under tight watch.

A better Ombudsman requires not just a change in procedural rules, but an unwavering commitment to impartiality, transparency, and courage. To truly excel where Martires failed, Remulla has the herculean task of not only investigating high-profile corruption without prejudice but also of being very careful and protecting his own reputation.

The sacred trust in the Ombudsman demands nothing less, and the Filipino people, weary of empty promises, will be watching to see if personal and political loyalties might again trump the demands of justice.

We certainly wish Mr. Remulla all the luck in the world — in realizing his mandate to strike the corrupt out of public office.