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Remulla, his brother, and the Ombudsman’s workplace have debunked the declare, whereas images of him mendacity on a hospital mattress are AI-generated
Declare: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was rushed to the hospital and later died.
Score: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The declare has been circulating on Fb, with a number of accounts posting variations of the assertion and framing it as information.
Some of the standard posts has 15,000 reactions, 5,100 feedback, and 822 shares. The submit reads, “Information: Boying is reportedly rushed to the hospital. Is Romy calling for him?”
The “Romy” talked about within the submit refers back to the late Antipolo congressman Romeo Acop, who died in December 2025. Screenshots of the submit have additionally gone viral, with some crossing over to different social media platforms like X (previously Twitter), Threads, and YouTube.
Different variations of the declare use a black-and-white picture of Remulla, with textual content overlaid on it asserting his supposed hospitalization.
Some additionally use images displaying him mendacity on a hospital mattress, with a caption that reads: “BREAKING: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has handed away a message through cellphone saying [sic] his life on this very day is sustained to be honored and remembered by his family and friends.”
Regardless of the caption not claiming he died, its complicated wording and the hooked up images led social media customers to imagine that Remulla was hospitalized and later died. Some expressed their condolences, whereas others referenced journalist Kara David’s birthday want for corrupt politicians within the Philippines to die.
The information: Remulla, his brother, and the Workplace of the Ombudsman’s spokesperson have debunked the declare on separate events.
The Ombudsman himself appeared dwell on a radio present on DZRH Information on January 3, a couple of days after the false declare began circulating. Co-hosts on this system jokingly emphasised that he was bodily current of their studio and was not AI-generated.
The rumors led Remulla and his co-hosts to debate issues about organized troll operations spreading disinformation on-line. “‘Yung mga troll military, unlawful dapat ‘yan eh (Troll armies needs to be unlawful). There needs to be one thing extreme carried out to individuals who try this… who tackle different identities within the cyberworld,” Remulla mentioned.
A day earlier than, the Ombudsman’s brother and Inside Secretary Jonvic Remulla additionally debunked the claims. In line with a January 2 Inquirer.internet report, the inside secretary mentioned his brother had been enjoying golf earlier that morning.
On the identical day, Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Mico Clavano confirmed to a number of information shops that Remulla was in good well being.
The viral picture displaying Remulla in a hospital mattress can be AI-generated. AI detection software SightEngine discovered a screenshot of the picture to be 99% more likely to be AI-generated.
Remulla’s well being: In 2024, then-justice secretary Remulla had well being problems that led to a months-long bodily absence from his company. He underwent a quintuple bypass coronary heart surgical procedure in 2023, however “problems in his immune system” had been mentioned to have persevered.
Afterward, he revealed that he was identified with leukemia after the process, however grew to become cancer-free earlier than he was appointed Ombudsman in October 2025.
“To make clear statements launched with out context: the Ombudsman enjoys good well being and continues to carry out his duties with vigor and dedication. He has been cancer-free for a yr and a half and workout routines each morning earlier than going to the workplace to keep up a wholesome life-style,” the Workplace of the Ombudsman mentioned in a 2025 assertion quoted by Inquirer.internet.
Earlier fact-checks: Rappler has debunked different false claims about politicians dying or being ill:
– Shay Du/Rappler.com
Hold us conscious of suspicious Fb pages, teams, accounts, web sites, articles, or images in your community by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You might also report doubtful claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Fb or Newsbreak through Twitter direct message. Allow us to battle disinformation one Truth Test at a time.
