Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to trust Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla as criticisms mount on cases involving fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Malacañang said on Monday, May 18.
Speaking at a briefing, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the president still has confidence in Remulla.
“Wala pong dapat ikabahala dahil buo pa rin po ang tiwala ng Pangulo kay Secretary Jonvic Remulla,” Castro said.
[Translation: There is nothing to worry about because the president still fully trusts Secretary Jonvic Remulla.]
Castro said Malacañang has no information indicating that Marcos is considering replacing the Department of the Interior and Local Government chief.
“Sa ngayon po ay wala naman pong impormasyon patungkol diyan,” she said when asked about reports of a possible replacement.
[Translation: As of now, we have no information regarding that.]
Remulla has faced criticism over the government’s inability to immediately secure Co, who is facing graft and corruption allegations tied to flood control projects and was later reported to have sought asylum abroad.
The interior chief has apologized for providing a timeline on Co’s return to the Philippines despite the lack of confirmation from authorities. He admitted that he provided information to Marcos on Co’s custody in the Czech Republic.
Remulla also came under scrutiny following the tense standoff in the Senate that allowed Dela Rosa to escape the Senate premises and evade an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he has “zero expectations” of Remulla as he called for a nationwide manhunt for Dela Rosa.
“Alam mo, suko na ako dito kay Secretary Jonvic,” Trillanes said in an interview on The Newsmaker, .
[Translation: You know, I’ve already given up on Secretary Jonvic.]
“If you think at one point, he cannot top ‘yung incompetence niya, talagang he keeps on outdoing himself,” he added.
[Translation: If you think he can no longer top his incompetence, he somehow keeps on outdoing himself.]
In response, Remulla criticized Trillanes for his comments, calling him a braggart and reminding him that he lost three consecutive elections.
