Ombudsman eyes charges vs. fake news peddlers claiming he is sick

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday vowed to go after Facebook pages that identify him as someone afflicted with leukemia, saying he has been cancer-free for three years now.

“There's been a lot of fake news lately. [There are] people who are trying to create doubt about the office [of the Ombudsman] or maybe even the state of my health. This has to stop, and we are filing a complaint with DICT and Facebook itself to stop the proliferation of fake news,” Remulla said in a press conference.

He was referring to one of his previous illnesses, including one when he had to undergo a heart bypass operation in 2023.

“If you look through the interviews I gave about what I went through, I think it's obvious that it's already over. I was alarmed because I received the texts from people in media, my friends, saying that they're praying for me,” Remulla said.

“I said thank you, but my answer is, it's been almost three years since I've been cancer-free [and yet there are those who] still want to spread false information and weaken our office,” Remulla added.

Remulla said social media is being used by his detractors, such as the supporters of the Duterte family or those who are facing charges over the flood control mess.

“Obviously, it's meant to influence people so that they will have doubts about our government and this office. That's one of the things that I wanted to address today. They're trying to deceive people by having all of these social media articles that actually do not reflect the truth or the full truth,” Remulla said. —LDF, GMA News