VP Sara Duterte opposes Remulla’s appointment as Ombudsman

Vice President Sara Duterte on Saturday expressed her opposition to the appointment of former Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla as the new Ombudsman, saying that if she were the president, she wouldn't appoint him.

"Kung ako presidente, hindi siya ang i-a-apoint ko na Ombudsman," Duterte said in an ambush interview in Davao Oriental.

Remulla earlier said that he would issue a new memorandum allowing access to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of public officials, including that of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., and Vice President Duterte.

"Huwag na niya silipin. Ilagay na niya sa harap niya at pag-aralan na niya ng maayos kung ano man yung gusto niyang gawin. Ipagpasa-Diyos na lang natin siya at ang kanyang mga gagawin bilang Ombudsman," Duterte said.

Duterte was also asked about her comment regarding the plan of the House of Representatives to return P700 million of her office's budget for this year due to her refusal to attend the budget hearings, but she did not comment, saying that what is important now is to empathize with those affected by the calamities.

"I-postpone ko na lang muna ang comment ko sa budget. Hindi naman na mahalaga 'yung pera sa panahon ngayon dahil ang mas mahalaga ngayon ay yung maibsan yung lungkot, 'yung takot ng mga tao dahil sa mga pangyayari na lindol, pagbaha, bagyo," Duterte said.

Duterte also refused to comment on the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejecting the request of her father's defense counsel to grant interim release to the former president, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity for murder and attempted murder before the tribunal.

"I-hold ko na lang muna, ma'am, yung comment ko dito sa ICC case kasi kailangan natin maki-empathize sa mga nabiktima ng lindol at mag-sympathize doon sa mga namatayan. So mamaya na natin, mamaya ko na sagutin at magbigay ng komento sa ICC at sa iba pang mga issues," she said.