The political landscape in the Philippines has taken a dramatic turn in early October 2025, with the appointment of a new Ombudsman and a flurry of impeachment complaints targeting President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. The developments come amid ongoing investigations into corruption and a contentious chapter in the country’s recent history involving the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On October 7, 2025, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla sought to reassure the public and political observers that the Office of the Ombudsman would not be wielded as a political weapon against rivals or critics of President Marcos. According to Inquirer, Remulla emphasized, "When I became DOJ secretary, the first thing I removed was the weaponization of the law. It will not be weaponized. I will assure everyone." Speaking to reporters after his appointment as the new Ombudsman was announced, Remulla’s words aimed to calm anxieties about the impartiality and integrity of the nation’s top anticorruption office at a time when political tensions are running high.
Remulla’s nomination as Ombudsman was not without controversy. His involvement in the arrest and subsequent transfer of former President Duterte to the ICC had led to criminal and disbarment cases being filed against him. These cases, as reported by Inquirer, were eventually dismissed, and Remulla received clearance from the very office he is now set to lead. This paved the way for his inclusion in the shortlist of candidates and his eventual appointment by Malacañang, replacing former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, whose term ended on July 27, 2025.
The new Ombudsman’s stance appears unequivocal. “The job of the Ombudsman is for the entire Philippines, not for one political camp, so we will not spare anyone here,” Remulla declared, as quoted by Inquirer. He further committed to tackling high-profile cases directly, including those involving confidential funds. “It’s already there at the OMB, those reports. We will open them, study them, and ask the current handlers and those with the duty to handle those cases before we proceed,” Remulla added, signaling a proactive approach to long-standing and sensitive allegations.
Remulla is scheduled to take his oath on October 9, 2025, and will officially assume his new office the following day. During this transition, Justice Undersecretary Fredderick Vida will serve as the officer-in-charge of the Department of Justice, ensuring continuity at a time of significant institutional change.
While the Ombudsman’s office prepares for new leadership, President Marcos faces mounting political pressure from multiple impeachment complaints. On October 8, 2025, Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga publicly shared a document reflecting a fresh impeachment complaint against the president, citing betrayal of public trust. In a video posted to social media, Barzaga declared, “Under the grounds of betrayal of public trust, I am filing an impeachment for President Marcos. And hopefully, Congress will remove him soon so we can start investigating those involved in the flood control anomalies.” This statement, as reported by Philnews.ph, underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the political will behind the complaint.
This is not the first time President Marcos has faced such a challenge. Back in May 2025, Ronald Cardema, chairperson of the Duterte Youth party-list, filed the year’s first impeachment complaint against Marcos. Cardema’s complaint, submitted to the House of Representatives, was rooted in Marcos’s decision to allow the transfer of former President Duterte to foreign custody, following Duterte’s arrest and immediate transfer to The Hague. The ICC had issued an arrest warrant for Duterte as part of its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s anti-drug campaign from 2011 to 2019.
The transfer of Duterte to international authorities marked a watershed moment in Philippine politics, sparking heated debate over issues of sovereignty, accountability, and the rule of law. For some, it was a necessary step toward justice for thousands of alleged victims. For others, it was seen as an affront to national dignity and a betrayal by the current administration. The impeachment complaint by Cardema reflected the latter sentiment, accusing Marcos of failing to protect a Filipino citizen from foreign prosecution.
The most recent impeachment effort, however, centers on a different set of allegations: corruption and mismanagement tied to the country’s flood control projects. According to Philnews.ph, Barzaga’s complaint aims to remove Marcos so that Congress can investigate what he describes as "ghost and substandard flood control projects"—schemes that have reportedly siphoned off billions of pesos of taxpayers’ money. The Senate is already probing these projects, which involve a web of contractors and construction firms.
President Marcos himself has not shied away from addressing the issue. On October 8, 2025, he publicly identified the top 15 firms allegedly involved in the flood control anomalies: Legacy Construction Corporation, Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., St. Timothy Construction Corporation, QM Builders, EGB Construction Corporation, Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc., Centerways Construction and Development Inc., Sunwest, Inc., Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp., Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc., Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp., Wawao Builders, MG Samidan Construction, L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc., and Road Edge Trading & Development Services. The naming of these firms has intensified scrutiny and fueled calls for accountability.
The convergence of these two stories—the transition at the Office of the Ombudsman and the political storm surrounding President Marcos—highlights the fragility and complexity of Philippine democracy in 2025. The Ombudsman’s office, tasked with investigating and prosecuting government corruption, is now under the leadership of a figure who has himself been at the center of legal and political controversy. At the same time, the president faces unprecedented legal challenges, both for his handling of his predecessor’s fate and for his administration’s management of public funds.
As the Senate investigates the flood control projects and Congress considers the impeachment complaints, the spotlight falls on the country’s institutions and their ability to function impartially and effectively. Remulla’s promise to keep the Ombudsman’s office above partisan politics will be tested as it confronts cases involving powerful figures and politically sensitive issues. Meanwhile, the outcome of the impeachment efforts will depend not only on the merits of the allegations but also on the willingness of lawmakers to hold the highest office in the land accountable.
With the country’s democratic mechanisms under strain, many Filipinos are watching closely, hoping for transparency, accountability, and a renewed sense of public trust in their leaders and institutions.
