OMBUDSMAN Jesus Crispin Remulla has disclosed that he was diagnosed with leukemia while recovering from a quintuple bypass heart surgery in 2023.
In an interview with journalist Luchi Cruz-Valdez, Remulla recounted his health challenges that began during his tenure as secretary of the Department of Justice.
According to Remulla, doctors first identified a serious heart condition that required immediate bypass surgery.
The procedure addressed blocked arteries supplying blood to the heart. While in recovery, further medical examinations revealed leukemia, a type of cancer involving abnormal white blood cell production.
Remulla said he has since undergone two cycles of chemotherapy, total body radiation, and a bone marrow transplant.
His son served as his bone marrow donor.
“My blood now is not my old blood. It is blood from my son. We are a full match. That’s how I recovered and the prognosis looks good,” he said.
This marks the first time Remulla publicly confirmed his cancer diagnosis.
In 2023, he took a 10-day wellness leave from the DOJ, citing personal reasons, and later confirmed he had undergone heart surgery.
