Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Catibayan Remulla Jr. (Tagalog: [ˈdʒɔnbɪk rɛˈmuljɐ]; born October 23, 1967) is a Filipino politician serving as the secretary of the Interior and Local Government since 2024. He served as the governor of Cavite from 2019 to 2024 and from 2010 to 2016, and had previously served as vice governor and as a member of the Cavite Provincial Board. He is a son of former governor Juanito Remulla Sr. and sibling of fellow politicians Gilbert and Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Jonvic Remulla | |
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| 42nd Secretary of the Interior and Local Government | |
| Assumed office October 8, 2024 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Benhur Abalos |
| Governor of Cavite | |
| In office June 30, 2019 – October 8, 2024 | |
| Vice Governor | Jolo Revilla (2019–2022) Athena Tolentino (2022–2024) |
| Preceded by | Jesus Crispin Remulla |
| Succeeded by | Athena Tolentino |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016 | |
| Vice Governor | Recto Cantimbuhan (2010–2013) Jolo Revilla (2013–2016) |
| Preceded by | Ayong Maliksi |
| Succeeded by | Jesus Crispin Remulla |
| Vice Governor of Cavite | |
| In office February 6, 1998 – June 30, 2007 | |
| Governor | Bong Revilla (1998–2001) Ayong Maliksi (2001–2007) |
| Preceded by | Bong Revilla |
| Succeeded by | Dencito Campaña |
| Member of the Cavite Provincial Board from the 2nd district | |
| In office June 30, 1995 – February 6, 1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Juanito Victor Catibayan Remulla Jr.[1] October 23, 1967 Manila, Philippines[citation needed] |
| Political party | NUP (2021–present) Partido Magdalo (local) |
| Other political affiliations | UNA (2014–2016) Lakas–CMD (2012–2014) Nacionalista (2009–2012; 2016–2021) LDP (before 2005) |
| Spouse | Agnes Tirona |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | Juanito Remulla Sr. (father) Ditas Catibayan (mother) |
| Relatives | Jesus Crispin Remulla (brother) Gilbert Remulla (brother) |
| Residence(s) | Imus, Cavite Silang, Cavite[2] |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (AB) |
| Profession | Public servant, politician |
Remulla entered politics in 1995, when he won as board member of the second district of Cavite. Three years later, in 1998, he was elected as vice governor, a post he held for three terms and in 2010, he became governor. He became a governor again when he defeated former governor Ayong Maliksi in the 2019 elections.
Early life and education
editRemulla was born on October 23, 1967, to Juanito "Johnny" Remulla, who was then a member of the Cavite Provincial Board, and Ditas Catibayan. He is a member of the Remulla family, a known political dynasty in Cavite led by his father, who was later elected governor in 1979. He took up his secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila University. In college, he studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.[3] He graduated with a degree in philosophy.
Political career
editBoard member and Vice Governor (1995–2007)
editIn 1995, Remulla ran for board member of Cavite from the 2nd district and won. He ran for vice-governor in 1998 and was elected. Three years later, in 2001, he sought reelection with 2nd District Representative Ayong Maliksi, a protégé of his family, as his running mate and their tandem won. The two would win again in the 2004 elections.
Following the election, he broke ties with Maliksi when he filed an administrative case against Maliksi before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with an anomalous purchase of ₱7.5 million (about US$134,000) worth of rice in 2004. As a result, Maliksi was issued a six-month preventive suspension order on August 15, 2005, and he assumed office as acting governor.[4] Maliksi filed a petition and his suspension was lifted on October 24, 2005, when he was granted a preliminary injunction. Remulla would become acting governor again on April 4, 2006, when the Court of Appeals lifted Maliksi's preliminary injunction.[5] Nine months later, on January 10, 2007, Remulla became acting governor for the third time when the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the six-month preventive suspension order again on Maliksi.[6] In a surprise announcement the same month, he said he would not run as governor against Maliksi in the May 2007 elections.[7] Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez lifted the suspension order a month later for lack of merit.[8]
Governor (2010–2016, 2019–2024)
edit
Remulla made a comeback in politics in 2010, when he ran for governor. In the race, he defeated Vice Governor Dencito “Osboy” Campaña, who had the backing of Maliksi.
Under his tenure, Cavite was cited as one of the top-performing provinces in the Philippines by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Also, it is the first and only province to be ISO 9001:2008 certified.[9]
In the 2013 elections, Remulla sought a second term as governor, with actor and Cavite Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Barangays) President Jolo Revilla, son of Senator Bong Revilla and 2nd district Representative Lani Mercado, as his running mate. Maliksi challenged him in the race. During the campaign, Remulla accused Maliksi of being involved in the anomalous LRT extension project, where ₱500 million (about US$11.162 million) was allotted for 2,000 housing units, road, lighting and water projects, relocation sites and payments for the residents directly affected by the development. Remulla even threatened to resign if his allegations are proven wrong. And he said Mas mabuti ang mamigay, wag lang magnakaw (transl. It's better to give, not to steal)[10] Despite most surveys showing Maliksi would beat him by a wide margin, Remulla went on to win the election by more than 50,000 votes. Jolo Revilla also won, beating Maliksi's running mate, Ronald Jay Lacson, son of Senator Panfilo Lacson.
He was named as one of People Asia magazine's "People of the Year" in 2013, along with 2013 Miss World Megan Young.
In 2014, Remulla was assigned by Vice President Jejomar Binay as his new spokesperson.[11] Remulla was supposed to run for his last term as governor in 2016 but he decided to quit as Binay asked him to become Secretary of the Interior and Local Government should Binay win the presidency. His brother, Jesus Crispin, ran in his stead and later won. However, as of April 29, 2016, Remulla was confirmed to have left Binay's camp in support of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte.[12]
Remulla successfully sought a comeback as governor in 2019, defeating former Governor Maliksi for the second time. He sought for re-election 2022 and won, this time with Tagaytay councilor Athena Tolentino, the daughter of 8th district representative Abraham Tolentino, as his running mate. He also supported the successful campaign of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte.[13]
Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (2024–present)
editRemulla initially intended to run for his third and last consecutive term as the Governor of Cavite in the 2025 Philippine general election. However, he withdrew his certificate of candidacy on October 7, 2024, six days after filing it, and was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government,[14] succeeding the outgoing DILG Secretary and senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos, and eventually vacating the post of the Governor of Cavite, of which Vice Governor Athena Tolentino would later succeed him and assumed the governorship on same day of October 8, 2024, to finish out Remulla's remaining gubernatorial term.[15] Remulla took oath as secretary on October 8, 2024.[16][17]
Personal life
editRemulla is married to Agnes Tirona, a physician, with whom he has five children.
Remulla is the team manager of the UP Fighting Maroons (Men's Senior Basketball Team) and was instrumental in recruiting and building the team which eventually ended a 32-year finals drought in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). In game 1 of the 2018 Season 81 basketball finals against top-ranked Ateneo Blue Eagles, Remulla was handed a technical foul in violation of the "cooling-off" period when he attempted to approach the game officials prior to the start of the 3rd quarter.[18][19]
Remulla is also a fan of South Korean entertainment, noting how Korean dramas and K-pop inspire Filipinos and strengthen cultural ties, as Koreans are also the top tourists in the Philippines. He believes in learning from Korea's achievements, seeing their success as a model Filipinos can aspire to.[20]
References
edit- ^ url=http://www.facebook.com/jonvicremullajr
- ^ "No special treatment: Jonvic Remulla sends cops to posh village to enforce ECQ". Politiko. May 4, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
- ^ INQUIRER.net. "Upsilon alumni hold global reunion". Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "Maliksi suspended for six months by Ombudsman". Google News Archive.
- ^ "Maliksi suspended anew as CA orders lifting injunction; Remulla assumes post as acting Cavite governor"[dead link]
- ^ "DILG implements suspension order vs Maliksi". The Philippine Star.
- ^ "Cavite pols forge unity ticket". Inquirer Online.
- ^ "Ombudsman dismisses charges; DILG reinstates Maliksi as Cavite governor". Google News Archive.
- ^ "Continuous Action for ISO" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Cavite Provincial Government.
- ^ "Remulla to resign if proven wrong" Archived 2013-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Journal Online.
- ^ Macaraig, Ayee (August 27, 2014). "Jonvic Remulla now Binay spokesman, to leave NP". Rappler.
- ^ Cinco, Maricar (April 29, 2016). "Remullas dump Binay for Duterte". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ Remitio, Rex (February 12, 2022). "Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla endorses Bongbong-Sara tandem". Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
- ^ Galvez, Daphne (October 7, 2024). "Cavite governor Remulla named DILG chief". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Abrina, Dennis (October 7, 2024). "Jonvic Remulla, Athena Tolentino drop reelection bids as Cavite gov, VG". Rappler. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei; Bajo, Anna Felicia (October 7, 2024). "Jonvic Remulla to take oath as DILG secretary, says Justice chief". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ Bajo, Anna Felicia (October 8, 2024). "Jonvic Remulla takes oath as DILG chief". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
- ^ Medenilla, Samuel P. (May 9, 2019). "Disqualification case filed against Jonvic Remulla". BusinessMirror.
- ^ "Sorry na! Former Cavite Gov. and UP Fighting Maroons team manager Jonvic Remulla apologizes for costing the team one point". Politiko South Luzon. December 3, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Deña, Carla Bauto (October 19, 2022). "Gov. Remulla defends K-dramas; say they give Pinoys hope, inspiration during pandemic". Manila Bulletin.