MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla was not hospitalized as rumored but was “playing golf” on Friday morning, according to his brother, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“He was playing golf this morning. We are having breakfast tomorrow,” the interior secretary told the Inquirer in a text message.

Claims that the ombudsman was hospitalized circulated on social media in recent days, particularly from Remulla’s critics and supporters of the Duterte family.

Asked whether they would pursue legal action against social media users who spread the claim, Secretary Remulla said, “No need.”

Reporters have sought comment from the Office of the Ombudsman, but it has yet to respond as of this writing.

Previously, Ombudsman Remulla revealed that he was “diagnosed with a heart condition,” underwent a quintuple bypass, and was later diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer affecting the blood.

The Office of the Ombudsman has since assured the public that Remulla was in good health and had been cancer-free for a year and a half.