Imee Marcos fights back after Ombudsman clears Remulla

National

SHE is not backing down.

Senator Imee Marcos has challenged the Ombudsman’s dismissal of her complaints against Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, filing a motion to keep the charges alive.

The cases stemmed from the alleged unlawful arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte in March. Remulla confirmed that the Ombudsman had already issued a resolution clearing him and several others.

Marcos said her motion for reconsideration was filed on the same day the decision was issued, making it timely and keeping the case pending. Because of this, she argued, Remulla cannot be considered cleared by the Ombudsman.

“Therefore, Secretary Boying Remulla still has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman,” she said in a Philstar report. She also claimed that any clearance issued despite her motion would be deceptive.

The move comes as Remulla vies for the Ombudsman post vacated by Samuel Martires, who retired on July 27. He is one of 17 applicants for the position.

Applicants must submit an Ombudsman clearance to advance in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) screening, and Marcos’ challenge could stall Remulla’s candidacy if his clearance remains unresolved.

Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting noted that Remulla and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair Felix Reyes Jr. must secure clearance before the final day of JBC deliberations in the coming weeks.

Without it, she said, the JBC cannot include them in its shortlist of nominees for presidential appointment.

The complaints against Remulla included grave misconduct and multiple criminal offenses, such as arbitrary detention, usurpation of judicial functions, graft, grave threats, usurpation of authority, false testimony, and perjury. All were dismissed by the Ombudsman, though Marcos’ motion seeks to have the cases reinstated.(MyTVCebu)