“Remulla’s presence of mind on that fateful day in January 2001 is an example of how quick-thinking he could be and how creative his legal mind is when it is at crunch time”
Early morning of Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla saw a draft letter being forced on then sleepless President Joseph Estrada to sign at the Presidential Residence. Erap was being made to resign from the presidency.
Boying tore up the letter, went to a typewriter and typed his own version of what Estrada was to do. He asked the President to sign the letter. Erap was going on leave, not resigning. Estrada signed that letter. Remulla sent it to Congress, as required by the Constitution, when a president is going on leave.
Estrada, of course, was ousted as president. In the afternoon of Jan.20. 2001. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took over as president “in acting” capacity.
The “going on leave” ploy and the “acting president” maneuver gave Estrada ample leverage later on to work out his eventual pardon, by the “acting” president herself.
The Supreme Court intervened and invented the awful oxymoron “constructive resignation.” It simply meant Estrada thought of resigning, therefore, he did resign—even if he did not.
Remulla’s presence of mind on that fateful day in January 2001 is an example of how quick-thinking he could be and how creative his legal mind is when it is at crunch time.
After serving in the Palace as a deputy and presidential adviser, Boying went on to become governor of Cavite and later congressman. He won unopposed as congressman of Cavite’s 7th district in the May 9, 2022 election.
Jesus Crispin is the new Secretary of Justice. He is named Jesus because he was born on a Good Friday. Crispin was a grandfather.
Unknown to many, the DOJ bureaucracy is populated by people who have a different idea of honesty and justice. Like the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation. Chinese tourists get permanent resident visas, instantly, right at the airport, upon arrival. For a price.
DOJ is the prosecution arm of the state, and, with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), is also the premier investigating arm of the government. No case can prosper in court without the prosecutor or fiscal filing a case.
The cases are strengthened by evidence gathered by the NBI. Absent both efforts, by the NBI and the prosecutor, a miscarriage of justice can conceivably materialize. Prosecutors used to be called fiscals. Fiscals became synonymous with fix-cals. They fix cases, for a price.
This is the DOJ that Remulla inherits. The Jesus in his name should work wonders.
However, I am not referring to the Jesus who said a sinner must be forgiven seven times seven. I am referring to what one theologian defined justice “in the common sense of power struggles, coercion, and necessary violence and punishment.”
The late Ramon Magsaysay said, “those who have less in life must have more in law.” RM also believed “in the majesty of constitutional and legal processes, in the inviolability of human rights.”
That, however, should be tempered by what President Erap Estrada said, “a hungry stomach knows no law.”
So much is expected of Boying Remulla.
“From the way you have been comporting yourself in deliberations in the House of Representatives, and from your keen understanding of the law, I am certain you’ll make an ideal Justice Secretary,” President Bongbong Marcos told Remulla when he offered the congressman the DOJ job.
Remulla expressed his appreciation for having been on the mind of BBM.
The new DOJ chief took over on July 4.
The Secretary pledged to give his all and be “totally committed” to what the Department of Justice stands for.
Remulla was in no position to turn down BBM’s job offer.
The President was elected by more than 31 million people, a historic mandate and show of trust, Remulla said. Thus, despite the confidence placed in the congressman by the 200,000 people of the seventh district of Cavite, he accepted the position of Justice Secretary.
Remulla promised he would remain with BBM for the entire six-year term, from day one to the last, and to ensure that the DOJ’s vision to uphold the rule of law is carried out.
Remulla’s vision for the DOJ – “give justice to every man, woman and child, no matter the circumstance of birth, no matter the economic standing.”
The job is extremely challenging. He said “mabigat ang hamong binigay sa atin.”
He will approach his tenure as DOJ Secretary as a “marathon,” that will be “action-packed, full of commitment and full of hope.” He intends to rid the attached agencies of corruption and syndicates, and asked the DOJ officials and employees to join him in this fight.
In sum, Remulla sought the cooperation of all DOJ officials and employees to achieve the DOJ’s vision and mission, but issued a warning to those who refuse to cooperate.
He said that everyone should be committed to the vision. He concluded by issuing a stern warning to those who are not committed to the vision: their day will come.
Remulla’s skills as a lawyer and legislator are needed by BBM. In the name of justice – for all.
Before he entered Cavite politics, Remulla was a senior official under the administration of President Estrada (June 1998 to January 2001). His late father, Juanito “Johnny” Remulla, was Cavite governor during the reign of Marcos 1.0.
The elder Remulla was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention, and a loyal supporter of Marcos Sr..
Like dad Johnny, Boying Remulla is a lawyer and a natural for political leadership.
In his younger days when his dad was still the provincial governor, Boying inquired about the wants and needs of ordinary Cavite folk, and conveyed what he found out to his father and his father’s key people at the provincial capitol.
Often, market vendors, micro-business owners, ambulant peddlers, jeepney and tricycle drivers, street folk and many other ordinary people from Cavite did not even know they were talking to the governor’s son.
Boying’s taste for public service dates back to his UP Law years.
After passing the Bar examination (he was among the top 20 examinees during his time), he established his own law firm and handled many pro bono cases. He dabbled in some real estate business to keep the free legal aid services of his law firm operational.
Politics eventually beckoned and, soon, Remulla accepted President Estrada’s invitation to join his administration as a point person in Malacañang.
After the end of the Estrada administration, Remulla returned to Cavite and began his political career as a congressman.
In Congress, Remulla focused on measures that helped improve the plight of workers and overseas Filipino expats – a mainstay of the economy.