Rep. Castro calls out 'special treatment' allegedly given to Remulla's son

House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro on Monday called out the supposed special treatment given to drug suspect Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

In a statement, Castro noted the two-day delay before Juanito's arrest was publicized.

"His father who was in Geneva was even among the first to know of the arrest," Castro said. "What transpired during the almost two-day delay?"

The ACT Teachers party-list lawmaker also questioned why Juanito's face was blurred in his mug shots, which she said was different from the "common practice" of releasing unaltered mug shots of drug suspects and parading them "in front of the media as early as they can."

Finally, Castro said that the authorities' decision not to  subject the younger Remulla to mandatory drug test, as well as delayed filing of charges, reek of special treatment.

Juanito was arrested by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents last week in connection with a parcel allegedly containing P1.3 million worth of "kush" or high-grade marijuana. The parcel was intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. He was charged with drug possession before the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court last Friday.

PDEA's comment

Sought for comment, PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon said blurring the face of a drug suspect in a mug shot is part of their "existing media protocols."

"We have existing media protocols on this, matagal na po 'yan [it's been there for a while] ever since we experienced long ago that several quarters apart from the counsel and immediate family of suspects invoke the presumption of innocence rule whenever they (suspects) are shown in media," he told GMA News Online in a message.

"Pati 'yung pag present ng suspects sa media thru a 'line-up' matagal na po natin hindi ginagawa [We no longer present suspects to the media thru a 'line-up']," he added.

As for Juanito not undergoing drug test, Carreon said it was not PDEA's decision but of the suspect's lawyer.

"[I]t was his Lawyer's advice for him to decline the drug test. It was NOT PDEA's decision as erroneously reported by some media," he said.

GMA News Online has also reached out to Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Mico Clavano, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Remulla earlier said he would not interfere with his son's case and that he serves at the pleasure of the President.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., meanwhile, earlier said that calls for Remulla to resign because of his son's arrest have no basis.

As Justice chief, all government prosecutors, including those who will prosecute his son, are under Remulla. —with Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News