DOJ chief Remulla on resignation calls: It will not happen

Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva Espaٌña

MANILA, Philippines–Will Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla step down as head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) following his son’s arrest for importing kush? “It will not happen,” he said.

Resignation calls for Remulla mounted after his son Juanito Jose Remulla III was arrested for importing P1 million worth of kush or high-grade marijuana.

READ: DOJ chief’s son arrested in P1 million marijuana bust 

Information about his son’s arrest came out last week just as Remulla, the father, travels back to the Philippines after attending the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva.

Upon his arrival, he said he was able to talk to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“He commiserates with my plight as a parent, that’s all. He said just go back to work. We need you in the local scene to do what has to be done, to continue what we’ve been doing, what we started doing to reform the justice system,” Remulla said.

The DOJ chief said he had not talked to his son. He said he has not spoken to anyone except a lawyer-cousin who will be representing his son.

“That’s everything I have to do with the case,” Remulla said.

Earlier, Remulla said that his love for his son is unconditional, “a person should always face the consequence of their actions, and I will let justice take its own course.”

The case for possessing illegal drugs against his son is already at the Las Piñas Court, while the case for importing illegal drugs is subject to a preliminary investigation before the Pasay City Prosecutors Office. The Prosecutors Office is under the National Prosecution Service, an attached agency of the DOJ.

Will the case reach the DOJ?

Remulla said: “That was the only question that was asked of me by the lawyers I talked to. I said if there is a resolution, do not let it reach the DOJ. Let it be discussed in court whatever the case may be.”

Under Department Circular 27, which was issued in July 2022, the Office of the Secretary shall review appeals from resolutions of the Prosecutor General in cases subject to a preliminary investigation.

The same circular provides that “the Secretary of Justice reserves the right to evaluate, in the interest of justice, to afford fair play and prevent the miscarriage of justice, motu proprio or upon written and signed complaint, any resolution of the Prosecutor General, Regional State Prosecutors and Provincial/City Prosecutors.”

Remulla said if the prosecutor’s resolution “is [an] adverse case against my son, it will not be appealed here. It will go straight to the courts for trial.”

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