DOJ chief’s eldest falls in drug-bust
BY ASHZEL HACHERO and VICTOR REYES
JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla yesterday said he will not intervene in the case of his eldest son, Juanito Jose Diaz III, who was nabbed by authorities in an anti-drug operation in Las Piñas City last Tuesday.
The younger Remulla, 38, was arrested by operatives from various agencies, including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), during a controlled-delivery operation at around 11:20 a.m. at BF Resort Village in Las Piñas.
Seized from him were 932 grams of kush, which refers to a pure or hybrid strain of marijuana, worth P1.3 million.
“I am both a father and the secretary of (the Department 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 in a statement as he confirmed that his son has been apprehended in the anti-drug operation.
“I have to abide by the oath of office when I took this position,” he said, adding he “will not intervene (in) nor influence (the prosecution of)” his son’s case.
Remulla is still in Geneva, Switzerland attending the 51st UN Human Rights Council meeting. He is expected to return to the country today, Friday.
The younger Remulla’s uncle, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, acknowledged that the suspect is his nephew and the eldest son of his brother.
In his Facebook page, Jonvic said he has already spoken to the DOJ secretary about the incident.
“Sec. Boying has pledged that he will not, in any way interfere, intervene nor use any of his affiliations to influence the charges against his son,” Jonvic said.
Last September 27, a package coming from San Diego, California and consigned to the younger Remulla, was found to contain illegal drugs during an x-ray screening at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. The package was declared containing “hooded sweaters.”
This prompted authorities to conduct a controlled delivery operation, leading to the arrest of Remulla, who was accosted after receiving the package.
The operation was conducted by operatives of PDEA, Bureau of Customs, and Ninoy-Aquino International Airport-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.
The suspect is facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, in relation to the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
“A person should always face the consequences of their action and I will let justice take its own course,” the DOJ chief said. He also praised the anti-drug operatives who apprehended his son, saying he had no quarrel with what they did.
“I thank the PDEA for doing their job, without fear or favor. I have no conflict with them,” he said.
He acknowledged that it is a very difficult time for his family but reiterated that he will not intercede on behalf of his son.
“I will respect the justice system,” he said, adding he will let his son work his way to redemption.
Prosecutors from the National Prosecution Service, an agency under the DOJ, will handle the case against Remulla’s son.
JONVIC SPEAKS
Jonvic said that while his nephew deserves “all my empathy,” he said he is not going to use his position as Cavite governor to influence the ongoing investigation.
“While he is family, my oath as Cavite Governor and as a public servant is paramount above any of his alleged transgressions,” said Jonvic.
He expressed the gratitude of the Remulla family to PDEA “for doing their job.”
“We were never informed of their operation and they were correct in doing so. There should be no fear nor favor in the conduct of their duties,” he said.
Jonvic said the Remulla family is not going to interfere in the probe.
“If in any way, any family member who tries to influence the prosecution of this case, then I will make sure to expose the matter right away. We will not tolerate an abuse of power in any way,” he said.
He also said that the Remulla family has already declined numerous requests by some friends to intervene in the case.
“We are not about to break any rules now,” said Jonvic. “I hope this statement puts all speculations to rest. My brother is flying back home soon, and he will issue a statement of his own.”
Jonvic said the Remulla family was “devastated” by the development, including his 87-year-old mother.
“We thank everyone for their calls of concern but rest assured that we are on top of the situation and that we shall abide in accordance with the due process of law,” he said.
‘UNDER CONTROL’
The PDEA said the drug problem is “under control,” noting the continuing relentless war on drugs under the Marcos administration.
PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said 26,093 barangays have been cleared of illegal drugs since the July 2016 start of the government’s Barangay Drug-Clearing Program (BDCP).
“Out of the 42,046 barangays in the Philippines, the drug-cleared barangays now numbers to about 26,093,” said Carreon, stressing the success of the continuing BDCP.
He said the number of barangays still affected by the drug problem is down to 9,414. “In other words, the percentage of nationwide drug-affectation now is only at 22.39 percent,” said Carreon, adding that the rest of the 6,603 barangays are either unaffected or drug-free since the start of BDCP.
Carreon said the anti-drug operations under the Marcos administration have remained aggressive, noting several huge drug hauls, including the seizure of 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion in Manila last Saturday.
“These alone prove the fact that indeed we are complying with the directive of his excellency, President Marcos Jr., in going after big-time drug syndicates,” said Carreon, but added there is still demand for illegal drugs.
“This brings to the fore the importance also of putting equal emphasis on demand reduction as well as rehabilitation and reintegration (of drug users),” he said.
Carreon said PDEA has “kicked into higher gear” the BDCP, which he said is being pursued hand-in-hand with operations against drug syndicates.
“As explained by (PDEA) Director General Wilkins Villanueva, rest assured that we are in a good situation where the government is on top of the situation,” Carreon said.
“There are big drug hauls and there is a worthwhile anti-drug program in place and, of course, as we mentioned, the Barangay Drug-Clearing Program gives equal focus on rehabilitation and reintegration, thereby addressing the demand side of this problem,” added Carreon.
Carreon said PDEA is hopeful it can “pull away” the people from drug use, noting these are the same people who are “fueling the drug syndicates to bring in supplies to the country.”
He shut down questions on the resurgence of the drug problem in the country amid the seizure of the big volume of illegal drugs recently.
“We would say there is no resurgence. We are thankful that again we were able to intercept these huge volumes of dangerous drugs,” said Carreon.
“The public can rest assured that the situation is under control. We are in a good situation. There is no resurgence of major illegal drug activities, and we are continuing on, carrying on the program with no less than the President on top of the situation,” Carreon added.
Meanwhile, police seized P102,680 worth of suspected dangerous drugs and arrested a jobless woman in a buy-bust operation in Pasig City last Wednesday.
Col. Celerino Sacro Jr, local police chief, identified the suspect as an alias Bengbeng, 49, of Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig. — With Christian Oineza
