Boying Remulla accepts DOJ chief offer of incoming Marcos admin

Cavite Representative Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla has accepted the offer to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the incoming Marcos administration.

Remulla confirmed this in a text message to GMA News Online.

In a separate Zoom interview with reporters, Remulla said the offer was a rare opportunity given to a lawyer like him.

"I didn't apply for the job. Pero ang talagang gusto niyang mangyari, sabi niya nga, ‘We cannot afford to fail. We have to do a good job.’ He has no other intention but to do the best job possible for the people. 'Yan ang sinasabi namin talaga na very rare chance given by the people to serve so the opportunity is there to do it and do it the best way possible," he said.

Remulla said there are a lot of things that need to be discussed with presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. given that the country's justice system has a lot of problems.

Remulla ran unopposed in the recent elections. He said a special election could be held or a caretaker could be appointed for his district.

"I'm not worried about it very much kasi ano naman, nakita ko naman 'yung mga nangyayari dati kung mayroon mang special election or kung mayroon 'yang caretaker, it works well but of course I would prefer that mayroon pa ring nakaupo sa distrito ko because mahalaga 'yan sa pagsuporta sa pangulo natin," he said.

The Marcos earlier named Benhur Abalos as the next Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte as the next secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Marcos' spokesperson, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been nominated for the executive secretary post.

Drug war deaths

Meanwhile, Remulla said he would check first the status of the review on the deaths being linked to the government's controversial drug war.

"Tingnan muna natin ang initial results, kung iindicate na kinakailangang pag-aralan pa, eh di gagawin natin. Duty natin sa bansa yan na lahat pagtanggol natin ang taumbayan," Remulla said.

(Let's see the initial results, if this will indicate that it needs further study, we will do that. That's our duty, we need to protect our countrymen.)

"Lahat, kakampi o kalaban, mayaman o mahirap, basta Pilipino, kahit banyaga kailangang irespeto natin ang karapatan. eh trabaho natin yan," Remulla added.

(We will protect even the non-allies. Even foreigners, we need to respect their rights. That's our job.)

Asked about the Administrative Order No. 35, Remulla said he is not yet familiar with it. Under AO 35, the Inter-Agency Committee On Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture, and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons (IAC) was created.

Remulla said he has not formally discussed yet with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra the transition of the department. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News