Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has initiated a major overhaul of the Office of the Ombudsman, ordering more than 80 senior officials to submit courtesy resignations and reviewing over 200 new hires made under his predecessor, Samuel Martires.
In Office Order 347 dated October 22, Remulla directed officials holding Salary Grades 25 to 29—including assistant ombudsmen, directors, and senior graft investigators—to submit their resignations within seven days. Employees with lower salary grades were also encouraged to follow suit “to show good faith.”
“All officials and employees named herein shall continue to report for work and perform their normal duties and responsibilities until any action on the courtesy resignations is taken by the undersigned,” the directive stated.
The order covers appointments made between May 29 and July 27, coinciding with the final weeks of Martires’ tenure before his retirement. Among those included are Assistant Ombudsmen Nellie Golez and Maria Olivia Elena Roxas.
Remulla clarified that the move is not a purge but an accountability measure aimed at ensuring all appointments were made properly. “Unfortunately, last July, there were 204 new hires in the Office of the Ombudsman,” he said. “I will ask these 204 people to reapply—lest they be treated as midnight appointees.”
He explained that since the hires are still within their six-month probationary period, their qualifications and hiring processes can be reviewed without violating civil service rules. The Civil Service Commission has also offered assistance in vetting the appointments.
Remulla, who took office earlier this month, said he discovered that many positions slated for reorganization had already been filled. “You don’t want to arrive in a place and see that all the seats expected for your team have been suddenly filled up,” he remarked.
The reorganization comes alongside Remulla’s reversal of several controversial policies under Martires’ term, including restoring public access to Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs), which had been restricted since 2019.
Remulla has also begun reassessing disciplinary cases decided under the previous administration. “We have to know where we stand on every matter left to us,” he said. “We cannot simply inherit decisions without understanding how and why they were made.”
“This is about good governance,” Remulla added. “We’re not out to punish anyone. We just need to ensure that everyone here serves under legitimate, transparent, and accountable appointments.”
