Ombudsman Urges Supreme Court Action on Complaint vs. CA Justices

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is seeking an update from the Supreme Court (SC) on the progress of an administrative case filed last year by his predecessor against seven incumbent justices of the Court of Appeals (CA). The complaint alleges that the CA justices' rulings against the Ombudsman's preventive suspension orders prejudiced the public service. During the "Executive Session" program on dzRH radio on Saturday, Remulla referred to a report by ABS-CBN News, stating that former Ombudsman Samuel Martires had filed an administrative complaint against seven CA associate justices. These complaints stem from the CA's issuance of temporary restraining orders (TROs) and rulings against the Ombudsman's preventive suspension orders on Antique officials. According to Remulla, "To date, there appears to be no record of the Judicial Integrity Board or the Supreme Court having acted on or resolved that complaint." A report from Pilipino Star Ngayon in March 2025 indicated that Martires pressed complaints for gross ignorance of the law and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the public against CA Associate Justices Louis Acosta, Marlene Gonzales-Sison, Rex Bernardo Pascual, Mary Charlene Hernandez-Azura, Roberto Quiroz, Rafael Antonio Santos, and Ferdinand Baylon. The names of Sison and Santos no longer appear on the list of incumbent justices on the CA website. Martires alleged that the justices issued a TRO against the Ombudsman's decision to preventively suspend local officials of Antique, even though only photocopies of the suspension order were presented instead of certified true copies. He also pointed out that the TRO was enforced even after the suspension had already lapsed, and that a petitioner was granted a TRO despite not having yet asked the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision. Remulla argued that the Ombudsman has been "tallying everything," particularly "cases dismissed by the Ombudsman, but were overturned by the Court of Appeals." He maintained, "We already have findings of fact. Now, when they dismiss that and reverse us, does that mean they have a new finding of fact? It is a question of law." Remulla's remarks followed an appeal from the SC for him or other parties to file complaints against erring judges and justices and submit supporting evidence. The SC stated it "takes seriously" accusations against members of the judiciary but "cannot act on broad allegations against an entire appellate court based on public statements." Following Remulla's call for the judiciary to "do some soul-searching" during Senate budget deliberations for the Office of the Ombudsman, he emphasized that the Ombudsman would "inform the public" about alleged institutional issues that disturb the credibility of the judiciary.