Solon questions ‘special treatment’ of justice secretary’s son

Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III (Photo from the Philippine Drug Enforceement Agency)

MANILA, Philippines — Drug suspect Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, has been getting a lot of “special treatment,” Rep. France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said in a statement issued on Monday.

Castro, a member of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, cited two incidents.

The first incident was the two-day delay in publicizing the younger Remulla, who was arrested last Oct. 11 in Las Piñas for importing around P1.3 million worth of kush, a cannabis plant that’s illegal in the Philippines.

“His father who was in Geneva was even among the first to know [of] the arrest. What transpired during the almost 2-day delay?” Castro asked.

The second incident was the release by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of the suspect’s mugshots with his face blurred.

“Their common practice though is that they not only release the unaltered mugshots of drug suspects but they also parade them in front of media as early as they can,” Castro said.

The third incident was that the suspect was not made to take a drug test, which is mandatory for anyone arrested in a drug case.

“It should have been done within 24 hrs after his arrest if there is reasonable ground to believe that he is under the influence, but with the almost 2-day delay that was skipped by the PDEA and even up till now he has not been tested,” she said.

Castro also questioned the delay in filing the case.

“The case for the importation of illegal drugs should have already been filed last week. But what is taking the Pasay prosecutor so long?” she said.

Last Friday, a complaint was filed against the younger Remulla for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

However, the Las Piñas prosecutors said the drug importation case would have to be filed by the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office because the PDEA operation took place in that city.

Remulla has repeatedly assured the public that he would not interfere in the case. He said his son would have to face the consequences of his actions.

However, many netizens have been calling for his resignation.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and several lawmakers backed the justice secretary. They said there was no basis to remove the Justice Secretary from office as he had not misbehaved in his job.

—WITH A REPORT FROM IRISH PEREZ (TRAINEE)

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