Remulla to seek another meeting with Guevarra to tackle ‘complex’ issues at DOJ

FILE PHOTO: DOJ logo. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Incoming Justice Secretary and incumbent Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said they will be asking for another meeting with outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to discuss what he described as “complicated” problems of the department.

“We might ask for a second one [meeting] kasi masalimuot talaga ang problema ng system na kailangan natin isaayos [the problem that needs to be addressed in the system is complex],” Remulla told reporters after the transition meeting Thursday.

LOOK: Outgoing Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and his successor, Cong. Boying Remulla at the DOJ for transition meeting. @inquirerdotnet 📸JUCRA pool pic.twitter.com/Ejis4F8U07

— tetch torres-tupas (@T2TupasINQ) June 9, 2022

Remulla did not elaborate on the complex problem that was discussed during the meeting.

“Nakakatuwa naman na nabigyan kami ng impormasyon ukol sa mga suliranin na sumasambalot sa ating hustisya [We are glad that we were given information about the problems in our justice system],” he added.

Remulla said that “it is a big work in progress that we need to continue and introduce new improvements.”

Remulla will take over as head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) beginning July 1.

As a DOJ head, there will be 10 attached agencies under his wing – Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Immigration (BI), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR), Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), and the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

Of these offices, the most controversial is the BuCor following allegations of illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary and the Bureau of Immigration due to the “Pastillas” and “tanim bala” schemes. Another agency under the DOJ is the PCGG which was created specifically to recover the ill-gotten wealth accumulated by Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his immediate family, relatives, subordinates, and close associates, whether located in the Philippines or abroad.

As Secretary of Justice, Remulla will also be a member of the Anti-Terrorism Council that has the authority to order the detention without warrant of suspected terrorists for 14 days which can be extended to 10 more days.

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