Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla said he would give a P10 million reward to anyone who can prove his family’s involvement in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) Island in Kawit.
Gov. Jonvic Remulla
In a Facebook post on Friday, May 31, Remulla addressed the circulating social media posts criticizing the Senate probe on the POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac, while allegedly overlooking those in Cavite.
“Ngayon, ako po ay handang magbigay ng P10 milyon pabuya para sa sino man na magpapatunay: 1. Na kami ay may involvement sa kasalukuyang operasyon ng isla. 2. Na ang aking tanggapan ay may proteskyon na ibinibigay sa mga ito kasama ang Kagawaran ng Hustisya (DOJ). 3. Na ako o sino man sa pamilya ay may kaukulang lagda para makakuha ng permit ang operasyon ng POGO Island (Now, I am willing to give a P10-million reward to anyone who can prove: 1. That we have involvement in the current operations of the island. 2. That my office provides protection to them along with the Department of Justice [DOJ]. 2. That I or anyone in my family has signed any document to obtain a permit for the operations of POGO Island),” Remulla wrote.
Sold by the Remullas in 2018
Remulla recounted the history of the island, which was acquired by his late father, Gov. Johnny Remulla, in 1970.
The island hosted a resort called Covelandia in 1976 that closed down in 1985. The leisure complex reopened in 1998.
“Ito po ay binenta ng aming pamilya taong 2018. Ang buwis na binayaran namin ay mahigit kumulang sa P400 milyon (This was sold by our family in 2018. The taxes we paid were approximately P400 million),” the governor stated.
“Matagal na pong wala sa amin ang pagmamay-ari ng dating Island Cove. (We have not owned the former Island Cove for a long time).”
POGO Island's permits
The chief executive also clarified that his brother, Gilbert Remulla, was yet to be part of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) when permits for the POGO Island were released.
“Si dating Congressman Gilbert Remulla po ay naging director ng PAGCOR simula 2022. Ang permits nito ay ibinigay ng dating PAGCOR taong 2020. Wala pong partisipasyon si Gilbert sa release ng permit nito (Former Congressman Gilbert Remulla has been a director of PAGCOR since 2022. The permits for this were issued by the previous PAGCOR administration in 2020. Gilbert had no participation in the release of these permits).”
The governor stressed that his family is neither involved in illegal activities nor providing protection to foreign nationals.
“Kami po ay hindi sangkot sa ano mang pasugalan o illegal na aktibidad. Hindi din po kami protector ng kahit sinong dayuhan. Lalong lalo na sa China (We are not involved in any gambling or illegal activities. We are also not protectors of any foreign nationals, especially from China)," Remulla said.