Jonvic Remulla is Marcos’ new DILG secretary
JUANITO Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla, Jr. the younger brother to current justice secretary Jesus Crispin ‘Boying Remulla withdrew his reelection as Cavite governor last Monday, Oct. 7 to join in the Marcos Cabinet.
Jonvic, long-time governor of Cavite, took his oath as the new head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) before President Bongbong Marcos at Malacanang, at 9 am, Tuesday, October 8.
In a statement, Marcos said Remulla’ extensive and excellent work in local government administration made him his top choice for the DILG post.
“Clearly, Governor Jonvic is more than qualified to handle the challenges of one of the government’s most important jobs,”the president said.
On his Facebook page, Jonvic said he accepted the appointment as DILG secretary to help his kababayang Cavitenyo and the entire Filipino people.
“Ang aking adhikain mula noon pa man ay ang ipagtibay ang kakayahan ng lokal na pamahalaan at kapulisan para maging pantay ang karapatan at oportunidad ng lahat tungo sa mas mabuting kinabukasan,” Jonvic said.
He said that after 29 years serving in the provincial government of Cavite, 11 and half of which he was governor, “I think I will leave the province much better than when I first came in.”
Jonvic replaces Benhur Abalos, Marcos’ first DILG chief who is seeking a Senate seat in 2025.
The PCO said that Jonvic’s joining the Marcos cabinet would be the first in recent Malacañang history for siblings to be members of the Cabinet at the same time.
The Remulla brothers are sons of bar topnotcher Atty. Juanito ‘Johnny’ Remulla who, in September 1979 while serving as provincial board member, was appointed governor by President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. following the death of Cavite Gov. Dominador Camerino.
In the election for governor in January 30, 1980, Johnny was elected, and in 1986, as a Marcos ally, he was one of local government executives forced to resign during the early days of Cory Aquino’s administration. Remulla Sr. served as governor in 1988 until 1995. (ELI TAPARAN II)
