President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 7, 2025 appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla ‘79 as the new Ombudsman.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, Remulla was appointed as the administration remained firm in its fight against corruption.

“As Ombudsman, Remulla is expected to uphold transparency, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and ensure that justice is administered fairly and efficiently,” Malacañang said.

“There will be no sacred cows, no exemptions, and no excuses. Public office is a public trust, and those who betray it will be held accountable,” it added.

Remulla, in a news conference after the Palace's announcement of his appointment, said the Office of the Ombudsman would not be used to go after a single political camp.

"The purpose for which this Office was put up by the framers of the Constitution is to make all public officers accountable so every branch of government comes clean," Remulla said.

"You should live by the code of ethics, ethical standards," he added.

Remulla said the disclosure of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth of public officials would be made public subject to the provisions of the Data Privacy Act.

The 1987 Constitution mandates the Ombudsman and his Deputies to act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of the government, any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, including government-owned or controlled corporations.

They shall serve for a term of seven years without reappointment.

Among the complaints before the Ombudsman are those on ghost and substandard flood control projects and the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Remulla will leave the Department of Justice as its 59th Secretary, having been named in 2022 as one of the President’s first Cabinet appointees.

Before he was appointed Secretary of Justice, Remulla served as congressman of the 7th district of Cavite from 2019 to 2022. He was the governor of Cavite from 2016 to 2019.

As Secretary of Justice, Remulla pushed for the following reforms

1. The Prosecution Integrity Board was established to enforce internal discipline and integrity.

2. Mass reviews of prison records were launched, decongesting the carceral system.

3. A new maximum-security facility in Mindoro is now underway to replace the decaying New Bilibid Prison.

4. Prosecutors and police were ordered to collaborate from the earliest stages of investigation.

Remulla pursued digitalization, expanded access to legal aid through the DOJ Action Center, and pushed the department toward transparency and responsiveness, especially for society’s most vulnerable—the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and those preyed upon in the digital domain.