DILG's Remulla apologizes for raising voice at Alan Peter Cayetano during Jinggoy Estrada arrest

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday apologized after raising his voice at Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano during the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada inside the Senate premises.

“I don’t think it was personal on our parts. I was calm to the point when I had to effect the warrant. If you noticed the video, I only raised my voice once,” Remulla told GMA News Online in a message.

“My apologies to the members of the Senate if they were offended,” he added.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta earlier expressed disappointment over what he described as the disrespect shown by Remulla toward Cayetano.

“Yung damdamin ko na hindi man lamang kapag pinagbigyan, sinigawan nang sinigawan ang Senate President. Bakit naman gano’n ang naging pagtrato na? Parang minaliit na kami,” Marcoleta said told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.

(I lamented that we were not allowed. The Senate President was shouted at. Why is the treatment like that? It's like we've been belittled.)

On Monday, Estrada was arrested inside the Senate premises in connection with P573-million plunder and graft charges filed against him.

Marcoleta, who belongs to the majority bloc, lamented that minority senators did not protest over the incident.

However, Senator Panfilo Lacson pushed back against Marcoleta’s statement, questioning the supposed blame on the minority.

Lacson added that the minority were even grateful that Remulla did not hit Cayetano during their heated argument during Estrada’s arrest.

“So, kasalanan pa ng minority bloc na hindi nag-protesta dahil sinigawan ang Senate President natin? Actually, laking pasasalamat nga namin na hindi siya binigwasan ni Sec. Jonvic dahil sa inasal niya kahapon. Damn your damdamin,” Lacos said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

(So, is it the minority bloc's fault that we didn't protest because our Senate President was yelled at? Actually, we are very grateful that Sec. Jonvic didn't punch him for his behavior yesterday. Damn your feelings.)

Meanwhile, Senator Senator Risa Hontiveros said all reactions and emotions stemming from the incident were valid.

“Lahat ng mga damdamin na 'yan valid. Doon sa pagtapik, tanungin na lang nila si Senator Jinggoy kung sino-sino sa amin sa minority ay nananatili pa rin yung pag-care sa kanya bilang tao,” Hontiveros said.

(All those feelings are valid. Regarding checking on Senator Jinggoy, they should just ask Senator Jinggoy who among us in the minority still care about him as a person.) — RSJ, GMA News