In a speech marking his first year in office, Ombudsman Boying Remulla warned in his first annual report that government officials who obstruct transparency and digitization reforms without valid justification will face consequences, declaring that public access to government information is a right every Filipino must be able to exercise.
Remulla, who spent his first year driving accountability and filing cases against officials tied to widespread corruption, said he will intensify transparency efforts by making government proceedings more open.
“Kailangang masanay ang gobyerno sa kultura ng transparency,” he said in his first annual report.
“Hindi ito pabor na hinihingi natin sa gobyerno. Karapatan ito ng bawat Pilipino.”
Remulla emphasized his office’s commitment to pursuing officials who unjustifiably resist reforms aimed at opening government operations.
“We will hold to account every official who resists transparency and digitization efforts without a justifiable cause. Ang haharang ay mananagot,” he said.
He criticized the entrenched culture of secrecy in government, warning that withholding public information creates opportunities for corruption and blocks citizens from scrutinizing the actions and wealth of officials.
He pointed to the Ombudsman’s decision to ease public access to Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), which disclose the assets, liabilities, and net worth of government officials.
According to Remulla, the office has granted 1,777 SALN requests, with only limited personal information redacted in accordance with the Data Privacy Act. The reform ended a previous practice requiring members of the public to seek an official’s permission before accessing their asset declarations.
Remulla said the same commitment to openness must extend across agencies, including digitizing records and modernizing systems. He reaffirmed his pledge to make the Ombudsman more aggressive and progressive, with reforms designed to prevent corruption and strengthen public scrutiny.
Appointed Ombudsman on Oct. 7, 2025, Remulla will serve a fixed seven‑year term until 2032. Before his appointment, he was the country’s 59th Justice Secretary, represented Cavite’s 7th District in Congress, and held posts as governor and lawyer. He earned his political science and law degrees at the University of the Philippines Diliman, graduating from law school in 1987.
