Juanito "Johnny" Reyes Remulla Sr. (Tagalog: [hwɐˈnitɔ rɛˈmuljɐ]; April 14, 1933 – December 29, 2014) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the longest sitting governor of Cavite.

Juanito R. Remulla Sr.
27th Governor of Cavite
In office
February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1995
Preceded byFernando C. Campos
Succeeded byEpimaco Velasco
In office
September 24, 1979 – February 19, 1986
Preceded byDominador Camerino
Succeeded byFernando C. Campos
Vice Governor of Cavite
In office
1972 – July 24, 1979
GovernorDominador Camerino (acting)
Delegate of the 1971 Constitutional Convention
In office
June 1, 1971 – December 30, 1971
Member of the Cavite Provincial Board
In office
1964–1970
Personal details
Born
Juanito Reyes Remulla

April 14, 1933
Imus, Cavite, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, U.S.
DiedDecember 29, 2014(2014-12-29) (aged 81)
Muntinlupa, Philippines
Political partyPartido Magdalo (1986–2014)
Other political
affiliations
Nationalist People's Coalition (1992–1995)
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1980–1986)
SpouseDitas Catibayan
Children7 (including Jesus Crispin, Juanito Victor, Jr., and Gilbert)
Residence(s)Imus, Cavite
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B)
OccupationLawyer
ProfessionPolitician

Early life

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Remulla was born on April 14, 1933, in Toclong, Imus, Cavite to Crispin and Teofista (née Reyes) Remulla. He was a valedictorian in the Medicion Elementary School in Imus and first honorable mention in the high school department of the Francisco Law College. He landed fourth in the 1956 Bar examinations after graduating from the College of Law in the University of the Philippines. While there, he was a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi.[1]

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Remulla was a lawyer and a business executive before he entered the government service. He was the senior partner in the Remulla, Estrella & Associates Law Office and the chairman of the board of Covelandia Island Resort in Binakayan in Kawit, Cavite at the same time. Owing to his brilliant scholastic record, Remulla was chosen awardee of the Colombo Plan Scholarship, Institute of Local Government, in Birmingham, England (1966–67).

In May 1958, Remulla assisted Marikina banker Romeo Liamzon and his girlfriend in holding a secret marriage ceremony in Imus, Cavite, where he signed an affidavit falsely claiming Liamzon to be a resident of Imus; a court case between Liamzon and his partner later found no records of a marriage license being issued.[2]

Political life

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Acting Governor and delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention

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He was appointed as acting governor in 1964 and 1965. His two brief stints in the executive office must have so impressed the Caviteños that in the election of delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention Remulla, 38, the youngest candidate, garnered the highest number of votes, besting his three more senior and experienced colleagues. Remulla was already a member of the provincial board and elected to the provincial board in 1972, he became vice governor the same year.

Governor of Cavite

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Two months after the death of Dominador Camerino on July 24, 1979, he holds the distinction of being the last appointed governor of Cavite on September 25. Finally, in the election for governor on January 30, 1980, Remulla, the KBL candidate, obtained an overwhelming majority over his Nacionalista opponent, Fernando Campos. As a Marcos ally, he is one of the local government executives forced to resign during the early days of Corazon Aquino administration.[3] In 1988, he was re-elected as Governor until 1995, when he was defeated by outgoing NBI director Epimaco Velasco.

Personal life

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He married Ditas Catibayan and had seven children including Jesus Crispin, the incumbent Secretary of Justice, Gilbert, a former representative, and Jonvic, the incumbent secretary of Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Death

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He died on December 29, 2014, aged 81, from multiple organ failure.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Juanito R. Remulla (Jan. 30, 1980 – Feb. 19, 1986)". cavite.gov.ph. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  2. ^ Court of Appeals (March 4, 1968). "Erlinda Blanco, et al., plaintiffs and appellees, vs. Romeo Liamzon, et al., defendants and appellants". Official Gazette: 2234. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  3. ^ "JUANITO R. REMULLA (January 30, 1980 – February 19, 1986)". cavite.gov.ph. December 29, 2014. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. ^ "Juanito Remulla dies, 81". Rappler. December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.