MANILA—Newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed that he was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer following his bypass surgery in 2023.

In an interview with journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdez on October 24, Remulla said doctors discovered he had leukemia after undergoing a quintuple bypass surgery last year.

“Nagkaroon ako ng quintuple bypass. Open heart. At noong pagaling na ako, na-diagnose ako ng cancer,” he said.

Remulla said he has since recovered after undergoing chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, for which his son served as the donor.

“Kaya ang dugo ko ngayon ay hindi na yung dati kong dugo. Ito yung dugo na galing sa aking anak,” he added.

In February 2024, Remulla earlier disclosed that he experienced health complications months after his surgery. He took a wellness leave following the June 2023 procedure, during which doctors found blockages in his heart.

The former Cavite representative and justice secretary was appointed Ombudsman on October 7, 2025.