INTERIOR AND LOCAL Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla will surely never stop using his position to get extensions or force the retirement or replacement of a police officer, just because he so wishes it.
On August 26, 2025, Remulla sought the relief of Gen. Nicolas Torre III as chief Philippine National Police simply because the latter refused to sign a high powered guns contract that had been arranged with then Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, whose kin was linked to a supplier of this arsenal. Torre was replaced by Remulla’s recommendee, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
Just recently, Remula used his position as chair of the National Police Commission to recommend the one-year extension of P/Brig. Gen. Hansel M. Marantan, effective upon reaching his compulsory retirement age, thereby completely disregarding the rule of succession and rules on retirement.
His request for Marantan’s one year extension is “to ensure continuity in the execution of critical and ongoing high impact operations currently being spearheaded by Gen. Marantan.”
Again just like his order for Gen. Torre’s relief in a memo to Napolcom, Marantan’s extension is also contained in an undated memo to Napolcom.
Insiders confided to retired veteran police reporter Alex Allan that Marantan’s service record is nothing to be proud about or to emulate.
In his FB account, Allan wrote: “Sorry Nartatez, ayaw na ni DILG Secretary Remulla sa iyo. Word spreading in Camp Crame is that Remulla has sought a one- year extension of Region 4 Commander Hansel Marantan (retirable this month) because he wants him to replace Nartatez as PNP chief.”
In an earlier post today, Allan said: “Why is DILG chief seeking a one-year extension of service of police Gen. Hansel Marantan who is scheduled to retire this month? He has not had any outstanding accomplishments, in fact he is quite controversial as he and some of his men had been dismissed from the service some years back.
Here’s a background provided by newsmen covering Camp Crame:
Marantan was appointed as director of Calabarazon (Region 4) on March 9, 2026. Remulla wants him extended supposedly to continue the campaign against fake cigarettes (as if this were an index crime).
Controversial background: “Involvement in the 2013 Atimonan Quezon shootout. He and several other police officers were initially dismissed and imprisoned but were reinstated in 2017 after an appeal.
He has polarized public opinion– often dubbed a “villain” by some critics due to past controversies. Reporters point out that Calabarzon is the second most lucrative region( second only to Central Luzon) in terms of illegal gambling (especially jueteng) payoffs to PNP commanders., Allan added.