Arroyo says she would oppose impeachment of Ombudsman Remulla

Former President and Pampanga 2nd Dist. Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday said she would vote against any impeachment complaint that may be filed against Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Arroyo issued the statement after her counsel, Joseph Frianeza, denied social media claims linking the former president to a supposed plan to impeach Remulla.

"Ombudsman Remulla was a CESO (Career Executive Service Officer) Assistant Secretary in President Estrada's office when EDSA Dos happened," she said, referring to the 2001 People Power uprising that ousted then-President Joseph Estrada amid allegations of large-scale corruption, including involvement in "jueteng" payoffs.

"Rather than cling to his Civil Service security of tenure, he graciously vacated his post to give me a free hand in organizing Malacañang," Arroyo said.

Arroyo said Remulla had been a trusted political ally since her administration.

"He became my ally when he became a congressman during my presidency and did much valuable legislative policy and oversight work for my administration," she said.

"Thus, if an impeachment resolution is filed against him in the House, I will vote against it. Impeachments are fundamentally political, and a vote in favor of Ombudsman Remulla would be my response," Arroyo added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Office of the Ombudsman on whether it is aware of any effort to oust Remulla and will publish its response once available.

Remulla, a longtime congressman, served as Justice secretary beginning in 2022 before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him Ombudsman in October 2025.

Since assuming office, Remulla has overseen the filing of at least five batches of cases related to alleged anomalies in flood control projects, including:

• Malversation and graft charges against resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and at least 15 others over an alleged substandard P289-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro;
• Malversation and graft charges against contractor Sarah Discaya and several others over an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental;
• Malversation and graft charges against former Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, and five others over an alleged P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan;
• Plunder and two counts of graft against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH National Capital Region District Engineers Manny Bulusan and Arturo Gonzalez Jr., and Assistant District Engineer Denryl Caesar Cortuna over alleged P573 million in kickbacks from flood control projects; and
• Malversation and graft charges against contractor spouses Curlee and Sarah Discaya, eight DPWH officials, and Ma. Angeline Discaya Rimando of St. Timothy Construction over a P53.9-million flood control project in Calumpit, Bulacan that was allegedly paid despite lacking supporting accomplishment reports.

Remulla has also said that senators Joel Villanueva and Francis Escudero, as well as former House Speaker and Leyte 1st Dist. Rep. Martin Romualdez, are among the officials under investigation by the Ombudsman's office over their alleged links to anomalies in flood control projects.— MCG, GMA News