Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has called on more than 200 employees in the Office of the Ombudsman to submit their courtesy resignations and reapply for their posts, citing questions over their appointments made during the previous administration.

According to Remulla, a total of 204 personnel were hired in the final months of the past administration. He described them as possible “midnight appointees” and said the move is meant to ensure transparency and fairness in government hiring.

“Unfortunately, last July, there were 204 new hires in the Office of the Ombudsman. I will ask these 204 people to reapply because there is a six-month probationary period,” Remulla said.

“I will ask them to reapply, [un]less they be treated as midnight appointees. I hope they’re all in good faith, and some of them will probably hand in their courtesy resignation just to show good faith.”

The Ombudsman emphasized that the goal is to make sure every official and employee in his office has gone through the proper hiring process.

“You don’t want to arrive in a place and find that all the seats expected to be available are already filled. That’s not how it should be,” he explained, noting that many of the positions appeared to have been filled hastily.

Remulla said he has requested assistance from the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to help evaluate the appointments and determine whether they complied with government hiring rules.

“The Civil Service Commission has been very forthcoming and has expressed its willingness to help us with this issue of midnight appointees,” he said.

The Ombudsman’s move is part of his broader effort to review personnel and strengthen integrity within the anti-graft office.