Justice Secretary and newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla underscored that even the highest-ranking government officials, including the sitting Vice President, can be investigated and prosecuted if the evidence supports it.

In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Remulla was asked directly whether prosecuting Vice President Sara Duterte was among his priorities.

“Titignan natin ‘yong mga reklamo sa kanya kasi never ko nakita. Ang unang reklamo na finile sa kanila ay actually finile sa akin ni Trillanes, hindi ko na nakita ‘yon, kasi noong dumating ‘yon sa DOJ ang nangyari finastbreak ‘yan ng dating prosecutor general papunta ng ombudsman kaya hindi ko nakita ‘yong demandang ‘yon,” Remulla explained.

He added that the complaints coming from the House of Representatives were not within the DOJ’s immediate concern.

“Ito namang demanda ng house, hindi ko ‘yan pinapansin talaga kasi malayo ‘yon sa bituka namin ng DOJ dahil ang amin noon ay ang dami-dami naming trabaho kaya ngayon ko lang pag-aaralan ‘yang mga kasong ‘yan.”

When pressed on whether a sitting vice president can be prosecuted without impeachment, Remulla explained that his office can implement actions limited to investigation but not in removing a high ranking official from position.

“Pwede siyang i-investigate at pwedeng iprosecute kung mayroong laman ang investigation na nagsasabi na liable siya for a criminal act. Hindi lang natin siya pwede tanggalin sa powers natin pero pwede natin iprosecute.”

He explained that the same applies to the President, though with constitutional limitations. “Imbestigahan pwede. Kaya lang hindi mo pwede iremove. Kailangan impeachment pa rin ang proseso para sa impeachable officers at sa iba naman kagaya ng House sila nag-eexpel ng members nila tsaka ang Senate ganoon din sila ang nag-eexpel ng member nila.”

He emphasized that for the Vice President, the process remains the same: “Impeachment pa rin ‘yan. Ibibigay natin sa Speaker of the House for proper action kapag merong conviction.”

On the Case of Corruption Probe: ‘Pag-iisipan at pag-aaralan’

Shifting the discussion to broader issues of corruption, Remulla commented on the complexity of large-scale conspiracies exposed in ongoing investigations, such as those related to alleged ‘ghost projects’.

“Naging usapin ang state witness [sa flood control hearings] diba… pero hindi na-contemplate ng mga gumawa ng batas na pwede pa lang mag-krimen ng 100 na krimen ang isang tao. O kaya 200 na krimen o 300 na krimen kaya ‘yong blanket immunity question pa ‘yan kung pwede ibigay ng DOJ, kasi nga ibang magnitude itong krimen na ito.”

He described the corruption schemes as massive and deeply intertwined — “isang conspiracy na ang krimen ay daan-daan,” he said, emphasizing the unprecedented scale of wrongdoing uncovered in recent investigations.

To confront these complex cases, Remulla shared that one of his first initiatives as Ombudsman would be to open formal discussions with the Supreme Court and the judiciary.

“Isa ‘yan sa mga gagawin naming dialogue sa Supreme Court atsaka sa judiciary sa simula ng aking termino,” he explained, noting that coordination among institutions is essential.

“Kailangan makipag-dialogue kami kasi marami kaming kailangan pag-usapan.”

He revealed that the government is considering accepting a potential state witness in the ghost projects probe but declined to provide further details.

“Sa ghost projects baka makakakuha tayo ng isang state pero hindi pa natin pwede ireveal ngayon ‘yan. DOJ na magsasabi niyan. Icocontemplate ‘yan at talagang pag-iisipan ‘yan at pag-aaralan kung talagang tatanggapin nilang state witness itong isa.”

Throughout the interview, Remulla maintained that all actions of the Ombudsman would be guided by one principle: evidence.

“Everything is up to the evidence. Basta may ebidensya, ano magagawa natin kundi sumunod sa ebidensiya.”