‘Boying’ lays bare battle with leukemia

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla revealed that he was diagnosed with leukemia following a quintuple bypass operation in 2023, barely a year after being appointed secretary of the Department of Justice.

In an interview with broadcast journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdes, the 64-year-old Remulla said the diagnosis came as he was recovering from heart complications that required open-heart surgery, prompting him to take a 10-day wellness leave.

“Just as I was recovering, I was diagnosed with blood cancer, leukemia,” he said in Filipino.

Remulla shared that he underwent two cycles of chemotherapy, total body irradiation, and a bone marrow transplant, with his son serving as the donor.

A bone marrow transplant replaces damaged or nonfunctioning bone marrow with healthy stem cells and is a common treatment for leukemia.

He said the illness manifested through frequent dizziness, fatigue, and nosebleeds.

Despite the health challenges, Remulla said he remains optimistic and continues to draw strength from his sense of purpose.

“There are still many challenges and problems even after finishing treatment, but I just keep going,” he said. “Maybe I really have a calling — that I have something else to do in this world, which is why my healing continues.”

Before his recent appointment as the country’s seventh Ombudsman, Remulla served as justice secretary under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for more than two years.

He was also a longtime congressman representing Cavite and later served as the province’s governor.