by Dominique Simone R. Saraspi

“I will not comment anymore on other issues there, but it will not happen,” Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said as declined the general public’s demand for his resignation due to the drug-related allegations against his son, Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III. 

The secretary’s son was arrested by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency after he allegedly received a Php 1.3 million-worth parcel of “kush” or top-grade marijuana last October 11 during a drug operation in Las Piñas City, Metro Manila.

After this, several netizens and families of drug war victims called for Remulla’s resignation after his son’s arrest, to ensure a nonpartisan investigation and court trial.

In response to this, Remulla assured the public that he will not interfere with the drug case and that the resolution of his son’s case will not reach his office.

“That is not my call. I am a very honorable person when it comes to this. It’s [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s] call and if I feel later on that I am not any more effective in this position then I will talk to the president whatever has to be done in the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc of legislators and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticized the apparent double standard in the handling of the case and cited that it was handled differently compared to “some cases”, like that of ex-senator Leila de Lima.

“If he weren’t the son of Sec. Boying, the media would surely be invited to the drug operation, and news of it would instantly spread upon arrest, or worse he would have been killed under the guise of resisting arrest,” ACT Rep. France Castro said, emphasizing the existence of a double standard in this case.

Thumbnail from Philippine Star