DILG head defends messaging style: ‘A little humor never hurt anyone’

Post by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla (screenshot)

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla doubled down on his messaging style, saying “a little humor never hurt anyone.”

In one of its posts on Tuesday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) wrote that it had “dozed off for a bit after being too full from a good meal” before listing areas where classes and government work were suspended for Wednesday.

Then outgoing Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos (right) talks with his successor, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, during Wednesday’s leadership turnover rites at the main office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Quezon City. —File photo from NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Netizens criticized the DILG’s casual tone, calling it “inappropriate” amid the onslaught of the southwest monsoon or habagat.

“So many got mad (Ang daming letga [colloquial for angry]). I’m sorry, but I won’t change my attitude,” Remulla said in a post over the agency’s social media on Wednesday afternoon.

“If my jokes are not to your liking, just remember that I did not curse, belittle or endanger anybody. I also didn’t flatter anybody or tell a lie,” he added.

READ: DILG chief defends style of class, work suspension advisories

In an interview with DZMM earlier on Wednesday, Remulla said he had no intention to offend anybody and that he “offered” his apologies for hurting the people’s sensibilities.

However, his tone was defensive, just like his style of messaging during the his time as governor of Cavite. /apl