DOJ chief

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(PCO) said in a statement.

Asked to react to concerns that Remulla would not be impartial as an ombudsman, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez said the justice chief went through a “very stringent process” required under the Constitution and was vetted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

“1 don’t believe there is basis to that concern,” Gomez told reporters yesterday. “We have the highest confidence in Secretary Remulla. He will be very impartial when he assumes his new role as the ombudsman.”

Pressed about Remulla’s advantage over the other candidates, Gomez replied: “At the end of the day, after the President receives the recommendation of the JBC, itis still the decision of the President after he receives the shortlist.”

Remulla was appointed the 59th secretary of the Department of Justice in June 2022. According to the PCO, the DOJ under Remulla advanced major reforms to modernize the justice system, decongest prisons, accelerate case resolution and expand access to legal services.

The incoming ombudsman completed his political science and law degrees at the University of the Philippines.

No weaponization of law

Interviewed after his appointment, Remulla vowed more transparency in the ombudsman’s investigations. He also vowed not to weaponize the law against the administration’s political foes, addressing critics who claim he would be an attack dog against the allies of the Duterte family.

“The law will not be weaponized, I’m making sure of that,” he said.

“There should be no weaponization of the office. There should be real gathering of evidence, strong evidence that would be presented to the courts. We want continuous and speedy trial,” he added.