A former head of the Philippine Bar Association on Saturday warned the justice system may collapse if interference or influence is perceived on the anti-illegal drug case of the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“The law should not be influenced. The secretary of justice and even judges must be impartial and unbiased,” Domingo said in a Teleradyo interview.
Public trust in the judicial process should be maintained, he said.
“The Justice department is one of the five pillars of the justice system. The five pillars are law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, penology, and our community. If the people lose faith on one of those pillars, our justice system will collapse,” Domingo said.
“Key to maintaining that is the trust and confidence of the people in the justice system,” he added.
Remulla’s eldest son, Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III, was charged with violating Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 for alleged possession of suspected kush worth around P1.3 million.
The case carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.
Jennah Marie Dela Cruz, a member of the Las Piñas City Prosecutor’s Office, said Secretary Remulla has not intervened in the case.
“There was never an intervention from the justice secretary. We have not received any call from anyone,” she said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said there was no basis for calls made on social media for the Justice secretary to resign.
“You call for somebody to resign if he’s not doing his job or that they have misbehaved in that job. He has done quite the contrary,” Mr. Marcos said.
“He has taken the very proper position that he is recusing himself from any involvement in the case of his son,” he added.
Meanwhile, more legislators have rallied behind Sec. Remulla.
“This call for SOJ Remulla’s resignation is premature and unnecessary. It will only muddle the case of his son who is already a consenting adult,” House majority leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Jose Manuel Dalipe said.
Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., for his part, vouched for the integrity of the Justice Secretary.
“I have known Secretary Boying for over three decades professionally and personally, and I can vouch for his exemplary integrity and utmost dignity,” he said.
“There are no relatives, friends, or siblings when it comes to his highest standards of professionalism. Boying always puts country and service to people first,” Haresco added.