Latest news with #Remulla
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DOJ says Roque's Netherlands asylum bid denied; Harry says 'fake news'
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who is facing qualified human trafficking charges in the Philippines, has been denied political asylum in The Hague, Netherlands. DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla made the remarks days after Roque denied that his asylum bid was rejected. Remulla added that Roque is currently in Germany, as reported by Super Radyo dzBB. 'Hindi sya nabigyan ng asylum ng Netherlands kaya nasa Germany na ang pagbibigay nito kung baka sakali,' Remulla said. (He was denied asylum, so he is in Germany now.) According to Remulla, the DOJ will wait for the results of Roque's political asylum in Germany, adding they may no longer request his extradition if his passport is cancelled. Dating presidential spokesperson @attyharryroque, bigong makakuha ng asylum sa The Netherlands — Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla, @dojphofficial | via @VargasMannysen — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 18, 2025 Once cancelled, he said the lawyer will be declared an undocumented alien and may be arrested by Interpol. 'Hihintayin natin. Pwede naman file-an ng extradition pagdatin ng panahon pero baka hindi na kailangan kasi kakanselahin naman ang passport niya. Kapag naging undocumented alien yan, pupwede nang kunin ng Interpol,' Remulla added. (We will wait for the results. We may file for extradition, but once his passport is cancelled, he will be an undocumented alien and may be arrested by Interpol.) Fake news? Roque, meanwhile, called out Remulla and described his statement as "fake news" "I am not surprised that the Marcos Jr. administration, through the Department of Justice, has become the purveyor of fake news," said Roque in a Facebook post on Wednesday. "Strike two na ang DOJ Secretary. Una, sinabi niya mayroon daw akong multiple passports. Ngayon, denied asylum. Ano ito? Nakalap ang impormasyon sa usapang Maritess," he added. He also said that his Germany trip was planned and he is now back in The Hague. "My trip to Germany was a pre-planned activity... The visit was upon the invitation of the Filipino community in Germany, where I administered the oathtaking of the proud members of the Hakbang ng Maisug Germany," explained Roque Last week, Roque also said that "asylum proceedings have not yet concluded." '[A]s of this date, asylum proceedings have not yet concluded, and no one has access to the proceedings except me and the Dutch government as the matter is treated with confidentiality,' Roque said on a Facebook post. Roque is facing charges for qualified human trafficking in connection with the Lucky South 99 POGO firm before the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court (RTC). A warrant of arrest has been ordered by the Angeles, Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 118. According to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), authorities were able to find evidence of torture, kidnapping, and sex trafficking at the site. Roque has denied the allegations against him. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DOJ launches training program for prosecutors, law enforcement agents
The Department of Justice (DOJ) with other agencies launched Tuesday the Training and Education Program for DOJ Prosecutors Law Enforcement Agents (TEPLEA), the official implementation of the department circular allowing prosecutors to take an active role in investigations. Present in the event were Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago, PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Philippine Coast Guard. 'Sabi ko nga, it's not a new invention. But it's something that should be institutionalized for the rest of time. Dapat ito maging [standard operating procedure] ng ating kapulisan, ng DOJ, ng ating NBI, ng ating Coast Guard, ng ating PDEA na mag tulong-tulong para mabuo ang kaso,' Justice Secretary Remulla said. (As I said, it's not a new invention. But it's something that should be institutionalized for the rest of time. This should become the standard operating procedure for our police, the DOJ, the NBI, the Coast Guard, and the PDEA to work together in building a case.) Remulla recalled instances of unprepared witnesses during trials when he was a practicing lawyer, saying they were easy pickings for him and lawyers who sought to have their clients acquitted. 'And that gave me an idea, really. That should not happen. Hindi dapat nangyayari ito sa atin sapagkat mas mahalaga ang papel ng pulis at piskal sa ating lipunan kaysa sa abugado na dumedepensa. Kung tutuusin,' he said. (And that gave me an idea, really. That should not happen. This should not be happening to us because the role of the police and the prosecutor in our society is more important than that of the defense lawyer, if you think about it.) 'Syempre the right to counsel is very important. It's a constitutional right. But for the right for society to have those who violated its laws punished by the law should be paramount. It should have primacy in our priorities,' he added. (Of course, the right to counsel is very important. It's a constitutional right. But the right of society to have those who violated its laws punished by the law should be paramount. It should have primacy in our priorities.) 'Disconnect' Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Remulla said there was a 'disconnect' between the PNP and the DOJ for the longest time. 'Everytime there's a case to be solved, a case to be prosecuted, each department blames each other. The police blames the fiscals, the fiscals blame the police. This time it stops. This time we work together. This time we train together. This time we learn together. And this time, we win together,' he said. The officials signed a pledge of commitment and support for TEPLEA. They vowed to uphold the rule of law, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, pursue continuous learning and growth, and to strengthen institutional capacity, among others. Meanwhile, in an ambush interview, Justice spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said that the TEPLEA is the official rollout of Department Circular No. 20, which directs prosecutors to take an active role in the investigation of crimes, particularly during the case build-up. Clavano said that the prosecutors will be trained in handling certain crimes such as drugs, kidnapping, and murder, among others. According to Clavano, around 1,800 prosecutors and law enforcement agents have been trained. He said the government is seeking to double the numbers by the end of 2025. 'Tumaas na po yung conviction rate natin by about 14%. Ibig po sabihin yan, 'yung mga kaso na finafile natin sa court, eh, ina-acknowledge ng judge na malakas din talaga. Dahil nakakapag-produce po tayo ng mga convictions,' he said. (The conviction rate has increased by about 14%. This means that the cases we file in court are acknowledged by judges as being strong because we are able to produce convictions.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News 'Kaya ang gusto natin ma-feel ng taong bayan na kung isang tao ay na-file na ng isang criminal case sa court, kabahan na. Dahil mas malaki ang possibility and probability na ma-convict ang isang tao na finailan ng kaso sa court,' he added. (That's why we want the public to feel that if a person has had a criminal case filed in court, they should be worried because there is now a greater possibility and probability that the person charged will be convicted.)a
GMA Network
01-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Russia, US refused to take vlogger Zdorovetskiy —DILG Sec. Remulla
Detained Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy will not be deported from the Philippines as Russia and the United States refused to accept him, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Sunday. 'Ang problema kasi namin, ang Russia, hindi siya tinatanggap, ang US naman, green card holder siya, hindi rin siya tinatanggap, so hindi namin alam kung saan siya papauwiin eh,' Remulla said in a statement. (Our problem is that Russia is not accepting him, neither does the US where he is a green card holder. So we don't know where to send him.) Zdorovetskiy was nabbed by Philippine authorities in April for engaging in a series of law-breaking stunts, including videoing himself harassing Filipinos. He will be facing trial next week for three counts of unjust vexation, with a possible imprisonment of three months to one year. 'We will service his sentence, sinigurado ko po 'yun (I assure you that he will serve his sentence),' Remulla said. Zdorovetskiy has asked Remulla to drop the charges against him, citing mental health concerns. However, Remulla said Zdorovetskiy's actions should never go unpunished. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-05-2025
- GMA Network
Detained Russian vlogger asks DILG chief Remulla to drop charges
Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, currently detained for harassing Filipinos in public for content, has asked Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla to drop the charges against him, citing mental health concerns. According to Jun Veneracion's report in '24 Oras' on Friday, Remulla said he received a letter from the Russian detainee. 'Sumulat sa akin na he is suffering from mental health issues daw,' Remulla said. 'Kung puwede i-drop na 'yung mga kaso, humihingi siya ng patawad.' (He wrote to me that he is allegedly suffering from mental health issues…asking if the charges filed against him could be dropped, and he also asked for forgiveness.) But Remulla maintained that Zdorovetskiy's actions should never go unpunished. He further stated that charges of unjust vexation against Zdorovetskiy for harassing three security guards will be filed in court next week. Earlier, the Taguig Prosecutor's Office had dismissed the theft charges but found 'sufficient evidence on record to establish a reasonable certainty of conviction for the crime of unjust vexation.' Remulla also said that Zdorovetskiy's legal team attempted to reach a settlement with the security guards. 'Mabuti na lang, 'yung mga security guards ay matibay ang loob. Hindi bumigay at itutuloy natin ang kaso,' he said. (Good thing our security guards stood firm. They did not fall for it and will continue with the case.) GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to the legal team of the Russian vlogger. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
30-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Remulla doesn't believe Teves wanted to return to PH
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday said he does not believe that former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo 'Arnie' Teves Jr. wanted to resolve the charges against him in the Philippines while he was in Timor-Leste. Teves, the alleged mastermind in the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo, is back in the Philippines after being deported by authorities in Timor-Leste. 'Hindi, ayaw niya lang talaga umuwi,' Remulla said in an ambush interview. (No, he just didn't want to return.) 'In fact, if you analyze everything that happened, nung nangyari 'yan he was abroad. But if he really was innocent, he would have come home. Pwede naman siya umuwi eh, pero hindi siya umuwi, di ba?' he added. (In fact, if you analyze everything that happened, when that happened he was abroad. But if he really was innocent, he would have come home. He could have returned, but he didn't, right?) While being read his Miranda rights during his flight, Teves said that he had no problem with returning to the Philippines as long as it was done right. In an earlier briefing, he also said that while he was in Timor-Leste, he thought that the cases against him must be resolved. 'At least ma-ano na din, matapos na rin. Kahit nung nandoon ako [sa Timor-Leste], iniisip ko kung hindi man ako umuwi. Haharapin— kailangan din ito matapos eh,' Teves said earlier. (At least it will finally be over. Even when I was in Timor-Leste, I was already thinking that even if I didn't return, this still had to be faced and resolved.) Teves was supposedly seeking treatment in the United States during the shooting Degamo and others on March 4, 2023 in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. Instead of returning to the country, Remulla said Teves visited ASEAN countries before settling in Timor-Leste. 'So what gives? Di ba flight is an indication of guilt,' Remulla said. When sought for comment, Topacio declined to comment, saying that Teves never said he wanted to return to the country. In an earlier briefing, Teves reiterated that he was concerned for his life when asked why he stayed in Timor-Leste if he knew that he needed to face the charges against him. The former lawmaker is facing multiple murder charges over the killing of Degamo and nine others on March 4, 2023 at the Degamo residence in Pamplona, Negros Oriental. Teves and others have also been charged with the alleged killings of three individuals in Negros Oriental in 2019. He and 12 others have also been designated as terrorists by the Anti-Terrorism Council, citing several alleged killings and harassment in Negros Oriental. He was expelled by the House of Representatives in August last year for disorderly conduct and continued absence. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
