Lawmaker accepts offer from Marcos to head Justice dep’t
CAVITE Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla on Monday said he had accepted presumptive President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s offer to be his Justice secretary.
“I’ve accepted it, it’s an honor,” the lawmaker told a news briefing. “It’s a very rare opportunity given to lawyers like us.”
“President Marcos and I talked about so many things during the campaign,” Mr. Remulla said. “At that time, I had no idea I was being considered [for the post]… There are so many errors in our justice system that need to be corrected.”
Mr. Remulla said he would look at the initial results of the Justice department’s review of extralegal killings by police in President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war on drugs
“If needed, it has to be decided properly,” he said in mixed English and Filipino when asked if he would continue the probe. “Let us see first.”
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, who heads an inter-agency panel looking at police drug raids in the past years, has faced increasing pressure from domestic and international groups to take more rogue cops to court.
The Philippine Human Rights Commission last week said the Duterte government had encouraged a culture of impunity by hindering independent inquiries and failing to prosecute erring cops involved in the deadly drug war.
Mr. Remulla was among the allies of Mr. Duterte in Congress who opposed the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN Corp.
During the campaign, he linked supporters of Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo to the Maoist movement.
As justice chief, Mr. Remulla will be a member of the newest anti-terrorism law’s Anti-Terrorism Council. He will also head a committee that investigates the killings of activists and dissenters. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
