Jonvic Remulla takes oath as DILG chief

Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla took his oath as the new Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday. 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office of Remulla before leaving for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Lao PDR. 

“Clearly, Governor Jonvic is more than qualified to handle the challenges of one of the government’s most important jobs,” Marcos said in a statement.

 “I do not have to spell out my marching orders to him because, as a boot on the ground, he knows what to do and how best to do it, the most important of which are keeping our people safe in their homes and making our local governments dynamic frontliners of service,” he added.

In appointing Remulla, Marcos cited his performance for 30 years in local governance in Cavite as board member, vice governor, and governor.

He said Remulla made Cavite “progressive” and “an economic powerhouse.”

“In every position, his people gifted him with an overwhelming mandate for a job well done. He repaid the people’s trust with hard work and honest service,” Marcos said.

Remulla served as Cavite governor prior to this latest appointment. He replaced Benhur Abalos who was deemed resigned after formalizing his senatorial bid in the 2025 midterm elections. 

In a statement, Remulla said he accepted the post as he intends to help not only his constituents in Cavite but the entire country. 

Empowering local government units and the police force has also been one of his advocacies, Remulla said. 

“Ang aking adhikain mula noon pa man ay ang ipagtibay ang kakayahan ng lokal na pamahalaan at kapulisan para maging pantay ang karapatan ng lahat at tungo sa mas mabuting kinabukasan,” Remulla said. 

(My advocacy ever since is to strengthen the local government and the police force for equality and for a better future.)

“Ito po ay hindi makakamit sa puro salita lamang or worse, ang pang-aaway ng walang hanggan. This can only be done through consensus building, community empowerment, and enhancing civic responsibility,” he added. 

(This can be achieved not through words or worse, bickering.) —with a report from Joviland Rita/KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News