FACT CHECK: Ombudsman Remulla is alive, not rushed to hospital

Claim: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was rushed to the hospital and later died.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The claim has been circulating on Facebook, with multiple accounts posting variations of the statement and framing it as news.

One of the most popular posts has 15,000 reactions, 5,100 comments, and 822 shares. The post reads, “News: Boying is reportedly rushed to the hospital. Is Romy calling for him?”

The “Romy” mentioned in the post refers to the late Antipolo congressman Romeo Acop, who died in December 2025. Screenshots of the post have also gone viral, with some crossing over to other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and YouTube.

Other variations of the claim use a black-and-white photo of Remulla, with text overlaid on it announcing his supposed hospitalization.

Some also use photos showing him lying on a hospital bed, with a caption that reads: “BREAKING: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has passed away a message via phone saying [sic] his life on this very day is continued to be honored and remembered by his friends and family.”

Despite the caption not claiming he died, its confusing wording and the attached photos led social media users to believe that Remulla was hospitalized and later died. Some expressed their condolences, while others referenced journalist Kara David’s birthday wish for corrupt politicians in the Philippines to die.

The facts: Remulla, his brother, and the Office of the Ombudsman’s spokesperson have debunked the claim on separate occasions.

The Ombudsman himself appeared live on a radio show on DZRH News on January 3, a few days after the false claim started circulating. Co-hosts on the program jokingly emphasized that he was physically present in their studio and was not AI-generated.

The rumors led Remulla and his co-hosts to discuss concerns about organized troll operations spreading disinformation online. “‘Yung mga troll army, illegal dapat ‘yan eh (Troll armies should be illegal). There has to be something severe done to people who do that… who take on other identities in the cyberworld,” Remulla said.

A day before, the Ombudsman’s brother and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also debunked the claims. According to a January 2 Inquirer.net report, the interior secretary said his brother had been playing golf earlier that morning.

On the same day, Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Mico Clavano confirmed to several news outlets that Remulla was in good health.

The viral photo showing Remulla in a hospital bed is also AI-generated. AI detection tool SightEngine found a screenshot of the photo to be 99% likely to be AI-generated.

Remulla’s health: In 2024, then-justice secretary Remulla had health complications that led to a months-long physical absence from his agency. He underwent a quintuple bypass heart surgery in 2023, but “complications in his immune system” were said to have persisted.

Later on, he revealed that he was diagnosed with leukemia after the procedure, but became cancer-free before he was appointed Ombudsman in October 2025.

“To clarify statements released without context: the Ombudsman enjoys good health and continues to perform his duties with vigor and dedication. He has been cancer-free for a year and a half and exercises every morning before going to the office to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in a 2025 statement quoted by Inquirer.net.

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has debunked other false claims about politicians dying or being in poor health:

• FACT CHECK: Quote card about Duterte’s health cites fake doctor 
• FACT CHECK: No reports of Marcos rushed to hospital due to medical emergency
• FACT CHECK: Duterte not found unconscious in ICC detention center
• FACT CHECK: Ex-president Duterte is alive, in ICC custody
• FACT CHECK: Zaldy Co is alive 

– Shay Du/Rappler.com

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