THE CALL FOR the immediate resignation of Interior and local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla is gaining traction amid what has been categorically referred to as a dismal failure to arrest a long list of fugitives.
According to human rights lawyer Atty. Dino de Leon, Remulla Jr. should have some decency to step down from office following an eye-to-eye confrontation with fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa shortly after gunshots were fired inside the Senate premises.
Dela Rosa has a standing arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes against humanity in relation to the previous administration’s war against drugs.
“Arrest Bato or resign,” de Leon said, saying the government cannot continue to project weakness in implementing warrants and enforcing accountability.
De Leon warned against adding Dela Rosa to what he described as a “growing list” of fugitives and wanted personalities whom the DILG has failed to arrest under Remulla’s leadership.
“Do not add Bato to the growing list of wanted personalities whom the DILG has failed to arrest,” he added.
TORRE’S ADVANTAGE
The lawyer said he could not help but compare Remulla’s stint as DILG secretary with the swift arrests against high-profile personalities by General Nicolas Torre III even before he rose to become the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
De Leon described Torre as result-oriented, noting that his previous operations were done in style — “swift and decisive.”
“I can’t help but compare him with General Torre, who moved swiftly and decisively. He is also wanting compared with his predecessor. Parang masyadong maraming press conferences at pa-pogi rather than delivering actual results,” de Leon averred.
It was Torre himself who arrested Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Founder Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City, and former President Rodrigo Duterte shortly after setting foot at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
READY TO RUMBLE
As this developed, Torre who has since been appointed general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), expressed willingness to join the search for Dela Rosa — if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would ask him to.
Torre was the chief of the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group when he arrested Quiboloy whose name appeared in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.
It was also the former PNP chief who accepted the challenge of pinning down Duterte —a job that many other senior police officers declined for fear of reprisal.
Dela Rosa meanwhile is also wanted by the ICC over his role as former police chief and enforcer of Duterte’s drug war.
ROAMING FUGITIVES
Since Remulla was appointed Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), he has yet been able to arrest the most dangerous fugitives in the country.
Known for his penchant for press conferences, Remulla somehow made the headlines following the arrest of thousands of topless ‘bystanders,’ by virtue of a memorandum circular he himself issued.
Interestingly, former Bureau of Corrections chief General Gerald Bantag, gaming tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, former Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, with Dela Rosa adding up to the so-called wanted list.
Bantag is wanted for the murder of hard-hitting broadcast journalist Percy Lapid; while Atong is believed to be the brain behind the disappearance of over 100 “missing sabungeros. Roque has remained abroad in view of human trafficking charges in relation to the illegal POGO operation.
DISMAL FAILURE
“What is the success rate of this DILG when it comes to arresting high-profile fugitives?” de Leon asked.
Amid what he described as dismal failure, the human rights lawyer urged Remulla to have some decency.
“Spare this administration from further national embarrassment. This administration is already being perceived as weak. If you cannot do your job and enforce the law, then resign,” de Leon stressed.
“Law enforcement officers serve warrants every day. That is their mandate. They should not be acting like they are confused about whose responsibility it is.”
According to de Leon, the DILG cannot evade responsibility by passing the burden entirely to another agency, especially when the Philippine National Police falls under its supervision.