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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Remulla, Abalos get CA nod

Remulla, Abalos get CA nod

Published Sep 14, 2022 03:55 pm

The powerful bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, September 14 confirmed the appointments of Jesus Crispin Catibayan Remulla and Benjamin de Castro Abalos Jr. as secretaries of the Department of Justice and of the Department of Interior and Local Government, respectively.

Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla of the Department of Justice (DOJ) breezes through the confirmation process of the Committee on Justice and Judicial Bar Council of the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. faces members of the Commission on Appointments' (CA) Committee on Interior and Local Government. (Senate PRIB)

This followed a public hearing conducted by the CA justice committee chaired by Senator Francis Tolentino and Interior and local government committee chaired by Senator Francis Escudero designed to determine their fitness to be members of the Cabinet of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

There were no opposition to the confirmation of the two secretaries during their first and last public hearing.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, concurrent CA chairman, presided over the CA plenary session that confirmed the confirmation of Remulla and Abalos.

In endorsing Remulla’s confirmation, Tolentino said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be in good hands under the leadership of Remulla, Both Tolentino and Remulla are Cavite province residents.

Remulla, a lawyer, was a former congressman and a Cavite governor.

He said his appointment by President Marcos as DOJ chief 95 days ago ‘’is every lawyer’s dream to be the DOJ secretary. ‘’

‘’I’m a man of action. I stand by the Rule of Law,’’ he added.

Since he began as DOJ secretary, Remulla said her has started drastic reforms to ensure that the integrity of the nDOJ is kept intact’’ and wants ‘’to leave an efficient justice system.’’

Asked by Tolentino on his thoughts regarding proposals to reimpose the death penalty, Remulla said that ‘’the value of life will always be important for us.’’

He, however, said ‘’policy makers (should) decide on it.’’

Abalos, on the other hand, was a former Mandaluyong City mayor, a former congressmen and former head of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He was also the national campaign manager of the President in the last May, 2022 elections.

Abalos promised to improve the services of the DILG and its agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

He also said he would push for the improvement of the services of the PNP, particularly in the field of investigation.

The public hearing by the CA labor committee on the appointment of Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma was suspended for lack of time.

It will resume on Tuesday morning.

The questions and answers by Senator Risa Hontiveros and Laguesma on labor issues took so long that CA members had to hurry up Hontiveros because the CA plenary session was being delayed.

Hontiveros asked for the suspension of the committee hearing because she still has a long list of labor-related questions that Laguesma has to answer in person.

Remulla was asked by Senator Joseph Victor "JV" G. Ejercito on his plans to reform the New Bilibid Prison, which he said, still suffers from the continuous proliferation of illegal drugs and illegal activities committed by syndicates inside the National Penitentiary.

"What are your plans Secretary Boying (Remulla)? We have here our senators and congressmen so when the budget season comes, probably we can support the plans of the DOJ Secretary on how we will be able to correct and improve our Bureau of Corrections, the Bilibid in particular," Ejercito said.

Remulla suggested that the government retires the National Bilibid Prison(NBP) in Muntinlupa City and instead build regional penitentiaries across the country.

And to avoid immense financial burden, Remulla also suggested that a "lease and transfer" scheme between the local government units (LGU) and the national government be established, wherein LGUs will fund the construction of their regional prisons and the national government will lease said facilities for about 30 years.

Hontiveros asked Remulla his views on the entry of foreign nationals, particularly workers of offshore gaming businesses, through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) visa-upon-arrival (VUA) scheme. During the 18th Congress, the minority senator led the legislative probe on the so-called "pastillas" modus in the implementation of the VUA.

"Do you agree, Mr. Secretary, that this scheme has created more opportunities for corruption and has allowed unsavory individuals to enter the country?" Hontiveros asked.

She welcomed Remulla's pitch for structural reforms and modernization in the country's immigration system.

Hontiveros then inquired about the DOJ chief's position on former Senator Leila de Lima's cases; proposals to abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG); and the investigation of the International Criminal Court on the Duterte administration's war on drugs. Hontiveros also secured Remulla's commitment that the DOJ will comply and implement Republic Act No. 11930 or the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Law.

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