‘Hope amid crisis remains in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines —  In celebration of his office’s 38th anniversary, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has reminded Filipinos that there is still hope for the Philippines, even amid ongoing crisis.

Working at the Office of the Ombudsman is not easy as it requires moral courage, integrity and grit to do what is right and just, considering its mandate of stamping out corruption.

Presiding over the mass, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva said the ombudsman must remain faithful to its founding vision as a “steadfast conscience” of the country.

“The ombudsman is called not only to investigate wrongdoings, but to preserve moral courage within governance itself,” said Villanueva, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee and priest advocating for drug war victims.

Former overall deputy ombudsman Melchor Carandang showed up at the mass after the Supreme Court overturned his dismissal under the Duterte administration.

The Supreme Court Third Division earlier declared null and void Carandang’s dismissal from office and the 2018 ruling of the Office of the President that found him liable for disclosing the alleged bank transactions of former president Rodrigo Duterte.