CAVITE Governor Jonvic Remulla will be the new chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, according to his brother, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Remulla yesterday said his younger brother will take his oath today, Tuesday, replacing Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos who resigned to run for a Senate seat in the 2025 elections.
“He’s scheduled to have an oath-taking tomorrow. In fact, I think he is withdrawing from his candidacy as we speak,” Remulla told reporters in a chance interview.
Malacanang, however, has yet to confirm this.
The younger Remulla is seeking reelection as Cavite governor. He was first elected in 2019, beating Ayong Maliksi, and was reelected in 2022.
The DOJ chief said he does not see any problem if there are two Remullas in the Cabinet, adding that with his younger brother at the helm of the DILG, it will help boost cooperation between the two agencies, especially in the justice and prosecution system.
“I think it can improve the justice system. I think it will have a good effect on the justice system because we have a Justice Sector Coordinating Council with the Supreme Court. The commitments can be made instantly because the two of us can always talk about what has to be done. Mas maganda ang coordination,” he said.
“Like minds and I think we only want the best for the country. We have no other motive,” he added.
Remulla said he can easily talk to his brother on how to enhance the training of the police and state prosecutors to speed up the delivery of justice.
“We will be able to accelerate the training,” he added.
The PNP is under the DILG while the National Prosecution Service is under the DOJ.
NOGRALES QUITS
Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman Karlo Nograles has resigned from his post, a day before the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for those seeking elective positions in the 2025 midterm elections.
“Yes. Atty. Karlo Nograles has submitted his resignation as chair of the Civil Service Commission,” acting Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez said in a message to the media.
Nograles, in his letter dated October 7, 20224, said his resignation was effective October 7. He said his stint at CSC has inspired him to return to his roots in Davao City.
“It is with mixed emotions that I tender my resignation as Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) effective today, 7 October 2024. This decision was difficult to make, as my time with the Commission has been productive, fulfilling, and inspiring,” he said.
“This experience has moved me to return to my roots in Davao City where I hope to bring and apply the lessons I have learned in my tenure as the head of the Commission, as well as my two decades in government,” he added.
Nograles did not directly say that he would run for office and for what elective position.
Before his resignation, there were reports that said he might run for mayor of Davao City. If true, he would run against his former boss, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor last Sunday.
Nograles was serving as the congressman of the first district of Davao City when he was appointed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte as Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman.
He also served as co-chairman and spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
