JV Ejercito vouches for Remulla: Iba ang prinsipyo niya

Senator JV Ejercito on Friday vouched for Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla's integrity following the arrest of his son over alleged illegal drugs.

"Knowing Sec. Boying Remulla for three decades, I know he will not tolerate this even if it's his son who is involved. Iba ang prinsipyo ni Sec. Boying. Kilala ko ang taong ito," Ejercito said.

"I know his character and his dedication to public service.  I have seen how proud he was working with [Presidential Management Staff] serving the President and the country," he added.

Remulla's eldest son, Juanito Jose Remulla III, was arrested earlier this week by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in connection with a parcel allegedly containing P1.3 million worth of "kush" or high-grade marijuana.

In a statement, Sec. Remulla said he would not intervene in his son's "predicament."

“I am both a father and the secretary of Justice, roles that I take very seriously. We all know about unconditional love, but at 38 years old, he will have to face his predicament as a fully emancipated child,” Remulla said of Juanito.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said they have "no comment" on Remulla, with Pimentel adding he believes the Justice secretary's statement "is sincere and self-explanatory."

Similarly, Senator Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., said Remulla's handwritten statement "is self-evident."

"Wala na po akong madadagdag don," she said at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

Senator Robin Padilla likewise supported the Justice secretary amid the controversy, saying the sins of the son are not the sins of the father.

"Ang pagkakamali ng Anak ay hindi pagkakamali ng Ama. Lalong ang pagkakasala ng anak ay hindi pagkakasala ng ama. Vice versa," Padilla said in a Facebook post.

"Ang magulang ang gumuguhit ng kapalaran ng anak ngunit ang magsasagawa ng kinabukasan nito ay ang anak. Ako ay nasa likod ni Secretary Boying Remulla sa pagsubok na kanyang pinagdaraanan. Bilang ama naiintindihan ko po ang pagdurugo ng kanyang puso at tibay ng kanyang dibdib," he added.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the calls for Remulla's resignation are "uncalled for, unjust and without basis."

"To borrow the bible verse, 'I am not my brother's keeper' stands on all fours in the current family situation of Sec. Remulla. In my humble opinion, calls for the resignation of Sec. Remulla after the apprehension of his adult son is uncalled for, unjust and without basis," he said in a statement.

"I firmly believe that all public servants should be judged on their own merits, on their work performance and not on what other people (even if related to them) do, most especially in this case a 38 year old adult. The adult son of Sec. Remulla exercises judgement independence and the good Secretary ceased to be his keeper when he turned 18," he added.

Based on Remulla's first 100 days in office, Gatchalian said the DOJ "is in for more positive reforms in the coming years."

"I look forward to more progressive reforms in the DOJ under his stewardship," he said.

President Marcos himself has thumbed down calls for Remulla to resign, saying they have "no basis."

"You call for somebody to resign if he is not doing his job or if he misbehave in that job," the president said.

Marcos stated that Remulla is "very aware that he must allow the processes of the judiciary to work properly and that no one in the Executive must interfere."

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said a complaint for importation of dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and for failure to exhibit or deposit documents under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act has been filed against Juanito.

Under Article III Section 4 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000 to P10 million shall be imposed upon any person involved in importation of illegal drugs.  —KBK, GMA News