Imee Marcos to oppose Boying Remulla’s Ombudsman bid

Senator Imee Marcos said Tuesday she will be filing an opposition against the application of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla to be the country's next Ombudsman.

In a press conference, Marcos claimed that Remulla was “[clearly] disqualified” for the position of Ombudsman.

She added that Remulla is being pushed into the position in order to jail Vice President Sara Duterte and her allies by 2028.

“Tinutukan ko ang Plan A nila na People's Initiative, Cha-cha. Binuking ko ang Plan B, 'yang impeachment, para mawala sa landas nila si VP Sara sa 2028. Ngayon, nasa Plan C na po tayo, sa Ombudsman naman. Noon pa’y, nakita ko na kaya ako nagsampa ng kaso nung May 2, nandoon ako sa Ombudsman. Kung hindi kayo titigil sa pamumulitika, mag-asaran tayo. Hindi ko rin kayo tatantanan,” she said.

(I keenly watched their Plan A which was People’s Initiative, Cha-cha. I exposed Plan B, the impeachment against VP Sara to remove her from their path by 2028. Now, we are at Plan C with the Ombudsman post. I have already expected this that's why I filed a case last May 2, I was there at the Ombudsman. If you don’t stop with your politicking, let’s annoy each other. I won’t leave you alone.)

The senator pointed out that Remulla had existing cases pending before the Ombudsman, which would make it impossible for him to get a clearance.

“Klaro 'yung conflict of interest. Hindi naman maitatakwil na may kaso. So, two sets of cases against Secretary Boying Remulla presently pending before the Ombudsman. Kung paano siya magkakaroon ng clearance from the Ombudsman? Pipilitin talaga," she said.

(The conflict of interest is clear. You cannot deny that there is a case. So, two sets of cases against Secretary Boying Remulla presently pending before the Ombudsman. How can he get clearance from the Ombudsman? They really will force it.)

In an interview with reporters after his interview with the Judicial and Bar Council, Remulla admitted that the Ombudsman has yet to give him a clearance for the JBC interviews and that he is still applying for it.

Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said that a clearance is one of the requirements required under the rules of the JBC, meaning that the applicant has no pending administrative or criminal case.

Remulla also said he will file a motion asking the Office of the Ombudsman to resolve the complaint filed against him and others by Senator Marcos over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Marcos alleged that Remulla was the “new face” in the efforts to remove Sara from office, and that their opponents was already on their third attempt to do so.

“There is a very ominous reason, clearly for Secretary Boying to become the next Ombudsman. It's the new face in the effort to get rid of VP Sara before 2028. And since the PI failed, the impeachment failed, therefore, the third attempt is lawfare at its very worst. Imprison Inday Sara, all the Duterte allies, including myself perhaps, to be harassed by cases with a new Ombudsman. Plunder will be the name of the game. No bail and imprisonment until 2028. I will be very, very surprised kung aabot si VP Sara na malaya kapag naupo itong uri ng Ombudsman (I will be very, very surprised if VP Sara will still be free by the time this kind of Ombudsman sits in office),” she said.

Asked when will she file her opposition to Remulla's bid, Marcos said as soon as possible, adding that she thought the DOJ secretary would not be interviewed by the JBC. 

"ASAP. Nagulat ako, kanina nag-interview na," she said.

GMA News Online reached out to Remulla for comment and will publish it once available. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News