Cavite Gov. Remulla says family isn’t involved in any POGO operation

Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla has clarified that their family is not involved in any Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO), noting that they no longer own an island resort which was converted into a gaming center.

Remulla in a Facebook post on Friday laid down several points regarding Island Cove, the resort in Cavite used to be owned by his family, which was retrofitted as a POGO site.

According to Remulla, there are rumors spreading regarding Island Cove, but he said this property, which sits on an island off Kawit town, was sold by the Remullas in 2018.

“Marami ang kumakalat na post tungkol sa Island Cove na dating pag-aari ng aming pamilya. Ito po ang ilang detalye para sa inyong kaalaman: 1970 po noong nabili ng aking yumaong ama na si Atty. Johnny Remulla ang isla na matatagpuan sa Kawit, Cavite […] Taong 1976 noong binuksan ito bilang Covelandia,” Remulla said.

(Many posts are spreading regarding the Island Cove resort which used to be owned by our family.  Here are some details for your information: it was in 1970 when my late father, Atty. Johnny Remulla, bought an island off Kawit, Cavite […] In 1976 it was opened as Covelandia.)

“Nagsara ito noong 1985 at muling binuksan noong 1998. Ito po ay binenta ng aming pamilya taong 2018. Ang buwis na binayaran namin ay mahigit kumulang sa P400 milyon,” he added.  “Matagal na pong wala sa amin ang pagmamay-ari ng dating Island Cove.”

(It closed down in 1985 and was reopened in 1998.  It was then sold by our family in 2018.  The taxes we paid were around P400 million.  We have not been owners of Island Cove for a long time now.)

Remulla also dared to give P10 million to anyone who can pinpoint their involvement to the POGO establishment in the former Island Cove — including allegations that the area is being protected by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or members of his family.

Remulla’s brother, Jesus Crispin Remulla, is the incumbent Justice Secretary.

READ: Remulla sees POGO shutdowns sparking ‘humanitarian crisis’

“Ngayon, ako po ay handang magbigay ng P10 milyon pabuya para sa sino man na magpapatunay: Na kami ay may involvement sa kasalukuyang operasyon ng isla […] Na ang aking tanggapan ay may proteskyon na ibinibigay sa mga ito kasama ang Kagawaran ng Hustisya (DOJ) […] Na ako o sino man sa pamilya ay may kaukulang lagda para makakuha ng permit ang operasyon ng POGO Island,” he added.

(I am ready to give a P10 milyon reward to anyone who can prove that we are involved in the current operation of the island; that my office and the DOJ protects it; that I or anyone from the family signed documents to give permits for the operation of the POGO Island.)

Governor Remulla also defended another brother of his, former broadcaster and ex-Cavite congressman Gilbert Remulla, who is now a director for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

Pagcor issues permits for POGOs, but Governor Remulla said that former Congressman Remulla did not participate in the release of the Island Cove POGO’s permit in 2020.

“Si dating Congressman Gilbert Remulla po ay naging director ng PAGCOR simula 2022.  Ang permits nito ay ibinigay ng dating Pagcor taong 2020. Wala pong partisipasyon si Gilbert sa release ng permit nito,” he said.

(Former Congressman Gilbert Remulla has been a director of Pagcor since 2022.  The permits given to the POGO were released in 2020.  Gilbert did not participate in the release of these permits.)

“Kami po ay hindi sangkot sa ano mang pasugalan o illegal na aktibidad.  Hindi din po kami protector ng kahit sinong dayuhan.  Lalong lalo na sa China,” he added.

(We are not involved in any gambling operation or any illegal activity.  We are not protectors of foreigners.  Especially China.)

Several bloggers on Facebook have questioned why the Senate’s inquiry on POGOs seem to have focused on games based in Bamban, Tarlac, and have avoided those in Cavite.

WATCH: Senate resumes probe into Tarlac Pogo hub, Bamban Mayor Alice Guo 

Some posts have even directly pointed to the Remullas as alleged protectors of the POGO in the former Island Cove.