Proof of Life: From Hospital Bed Rumor to Hearty Sinigang – How the Ombudsman Boying Outlived His Own Death Hoax (And Maybe Democracy Too)

DDS Troll Farms vs. the Remulla Family Group Chat: The Battle for Narrative Dominance

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — January 4, 2026

MY fellow Filipinos, this is Barok, perched in my cave, staring out at the smoke of fake news still hanging in the air like the stench of a corpse no one wants to bury.

This story—the sudden “hospitalization” of Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla—is not the tale of a man who fell ill. No. It is a carefully planted bomb in a warehouse already drenched in gasoline: the gasoline of political dynasties, of blood still unwashed from the drug war, of institutions weaponized as tools, and of a nation trained to believe whatever scrolls across its Facebook feed.

The rumor is not the disease; it is the symptom of a symptom. The real sickness has been festering for years.

1. The Theater of Fake News

Thursday afternoon, the rumor exploded: Remulla—whose medical history includes a quintuple bypass and leukemia—was supposedly hospitalized. No source, no photo, no evidence. Yet that was enough for it to go viral across DDS pages and troll farms.

The next day, Remulla appeared on a DZRH radio interview: laughing, saying he had just come from the gym, even thanking those who “showed concern.” His brother, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, claimed they played golf together. Assistant Ombudsman Clavano chimed in that the boss had enjoyed a hearty sinigang for breakfast. It felt like a family reunion on air, complete with punchlines.

The choreography was impeccable. But let us not be fooled. That radio appearance was not spontaneous—it was a counter-offensive. A live proof-of-life delivered with laughter, sending the message: “I am unshaken.”

Why the elaborate effort? Because they know this kind of attack works. In a country where whispers of “he’s dead” or “cancer again” are enough to sow doubt, a rumor is a weapon. And the DDS fired first—furious over Remulla’s legal opinion that former President Duterte can indeed be surrendered to the International Criminal Court.

This is information warfare, classic desperate style: destroy the opponent’s credibility so you never have to face the substance of the accusations.

***“Breaking: Trolls Confirm Remulla’s Death—Doctors Confirm Trolls’ Brain-Death Years Earlier.”***

2. The Battlefield of Motives

Let us not reduce this to “the DDS are angry.” It runs far deeper.

On the side of Remulla and the Marcos administration

Political pundits—those weary watchers of Philippine politics—are smirking: on the Remulla-Marcos side, this “anti-corruption” drive isn’t pure at all. It’s power consolidation in disguise. Remulla, the loyal ex-DOJ secretary turned Ombudsman, is the ideal frontman: he probes Pharmally, Sara’s lavish confidential funds, and shady flood projects—each case peeling Marcos away from Duterte’s bloody drug-war legacy. Bonus: his ICC “cooperation” polishes the country’s image abroad while quietly hobbling a rival dynasty eyeing 2028. The pundits sip their cold coffee and mutter: same old game, just new clowns clearing the runway for their own team.

On the side of the Duterte camp

This is not just retaliation. It is a survival strategy. By spreading rumors, they paint Remulla as “vulnerable”—delaying investigations, planting public doubt about his capacity, and reviving the narrative of “persecution.” If successful, it sets a precedent: any independent official who dares challenge them can be killed by gossip before ever filing a case.

And the other actors?

The Facebook algorithm that feeds on outrage for engagement? The vloggers who profit from every click? The netizens who repost without thinking because drama tastes better than truth? All of them are accomplices—because in our digital coliseum, blood is the cheapest entertainment.

3. Contradictions Highlighted by Political Observers

Observers of Philippine politics frequently point out inconsistencies on both sides that underscore the complexities—and occasional ironies—of the current landscape.

Regarding Ombudsman Remulla and his allies:

While Remulla has recently spoken out against fake news and advocated for “single online identities” to curb misinformation, he had in 2022 expressed skepticism about the authenticity of large rallies supporting Leni Robredo, suggesting some attendees might have been paid.
As the current lead on high-profile anti-corruption investigations, his family’s long-standing prominence in Cavite politics has prompted discussions about political dynasties.
Additionally, his son’s relatively swift acquittal following a 2022 drug possession case (involving P1.3 million worth of narcotics) raised questions among some observers about potential influence.

Regarding supporters of former President Duterte:

Many of the same voices that once strongly emphasized “law and order” during the aggressive anti-drug campaign—which resulted in thousands of deaths, often without full due process—are now the primary sources circulating unsubstantiated health rumors about Remulla.
This shift has led commentators to note an apparent inconsistency between past advocacy for strong institutional action and current use of unverified claims to challenge an institutional figure.

Political analysts often conclude that both camps—whether aligned with the Marcos administration or the Duterte faction—reflect enduring patterns in Philippine politics, where family influence, shifting alliances, and selective application of principles remain prominent features, regardless of who currently holds power.

4. Possible Futures—and Their Price

If this kind of rumor-mongering succeeds, what is the cost?
That every Ombudsman, every judge, every prosecutor who dares stand against the powerful can be destroyed on social media first, before ever rendering a decision. That courage will come with a price tag: personal annihilation.

Yet this scandal is also the perfect catalyst to expose deeper wounds:

the endless reign of dynasties,
the collapse of digital truth,
the weaponization of institutions like the Ombudsman and DOJ,
and the unresolved trauma of families who lost loved ones in the drug war—while the killers still post about “justice for me but not for thee.”

Possible resolutions?

Remulla could win in court against the rumor-mongers.
The Marcos and Duterte camps could strike a quiet deal—dropping cases in exchange for peace.
Things could escalate: impeachment attempts, more vicious disinformation, or—God forbid—political violence.

But the least likely outcome? Real reform. The long-dormant anti-dynasty law. Genuine platform accountability. Justice truly blind to political color.

My Challenge to You

My fellow Filipinos, I place my faith in none of them. Not in Remulla, suddenly cast as the anti-corruption hero. Not in the Duterte camp, now playing victim.

My allegiance is to you—the ordinary Filipino exhausted by these games.

So here is my call:
Let us refuse to let the spectacle endure.

Demand transparency that is not selective.
Demand prosecution that does not look at surnames.
Demand the anti-dynasty law that is promised only during elections.
Demand that platforms be held accountable for turning their sites into arenas of rage.
And above all, demand of ourselves: stop feeding on drama, and start chasing truth.

Because if we do nothing, the next rumor might be about us—or about a future we will no longer recognize.

If you have the strength, speak. If you have the anger, channel it wisely.

My cave is open to those ready to fight.

— Barok