Amid mounting clamor for Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to resign for lack of moral ascendancy with the arrest of his eldest son on drug charges, support for Sec. Remulla grew from within the legislature and the president’s party.
Amid growing clamor for Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla to resign for lack of ascendancy because of his son, Juanito Jose Remulla III’s arrest for possession of high-grade kush (cannabis), the DoJ chief found unexpected allies in key opposition figures—detained former Sen. Leila De Lima and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.
Earlier President Marcos Jr. dashed such clamors for Remulla’s resignation saying there is “no basis” for such clamors as Remulla has made clear his stand that he would not interfere with his son’s case.
Remulla’s eldest son, 38, faces charges of importation and possession of dangerous drugs before the Pasay and Las Piñas prosecutors’ offices. Importation of illegal drugs is a non-bailable offense that carries the penalty of life in prison and fines ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.
Suspect Juanito Jose Remulla III, son of Justice Secretary Remulla, refused to undergo a drug test “on advice of his counsel," Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman Derrick Carreon told reporters on Friday.
Rep. Lagman (Albay, 1st District) did not join demands for Remulla to resign over the investigation around his son’s capture with nearly a kilo of high-grade marijuana. But mugshots of Remulla and the police assisting him were blurred as against the normal mugshots being shared by investigators to media, like that of Sen. De Lima.
In a statement, Lagman, the recently-elected president of the once-ruling Liberal Party, said “there is no reason” for Remulla to resign as long as he remains true to his promise not to interfere in the case of his son.
“While we cannot choose our relatives, we can choose not to intervene on their behalf for violation of the law,” Lagman said Friday. “It is different when one covers up or denies the patent culpability of a relative or ancestor.”
Still, Lagman said the Remulla family must explain why it took them two days to disclose the arrest and detention of one of their clan members.
In a hand-written statement from her detention cell, former Sen. Leila de Lima also lauded Remulla’s commitment to keep his hands off his son’s case.
De Lima said she “can only sympathize” with Remulla, noting that his son is “presumed innocent until proven guilty.” (Even with him holding or physically possessing the package with his name on it?)
“This same cardinal presumption is what should have been upheld for those who have been judged only too swiftly in the past administration's drug war, and who were not given the chance to defend themselves before the courts,” she said.
De Lima said she hopes that the justice system would work for Remulla’s son, for her and for
“the thousand others who were condemned to death without trial during the past administration.”
Senators join in
“Sec. Remulla, for the sake of your son, for my sake, and the thousands killed whose families are still grieving, make justice work again in this country,” she said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said Remulla’s statement on the arrest of his son was “sincere and self-explanatory,” but declined to give any further comments.
Presidential sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, also said Remulla’s handwritten note is “self-evident.”
Sen. JV Ejercito vouched for the character of Remulla, saying that “he will not tolerate this even if it’s his son who is involved.”
The National Unity Party, where Remulla sits as its vice chairperson, expressed support for him in a statement, calling the justice secretary a “principled man” who “will let justice take its course.”
“We are assured of the fact that as a patriotic citizen and head of the Department of Justice, he will always place the national interest above his personal ties,” said the NUP statement signed by its chairman, Ronaldo Puno, and its president, Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte (Camarines Sur, 2nd District).
Tags: #DOJSec., #resign, #Marcos, #unexpectedallies