News Roundup 06 January 2023
Jan 06, 2023 • 3 min Read
Remulla son walks free after acquittal in P1.3M drug possession case | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (3rd update, 2:07 p.m.) — Juanito Jose Remulla III, son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, was freed from detention Friday after a Las Piñas court acquitted him of possession of illegal drugs amounting to P1.3 million.
The Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Branch 197 said the prosecution failed to provide evidence that the younger Remulla knew he was receiving a package of illegal drugs and that anti-drug agents committed lapses in the chain of custody of the nearly 900 grams of what authorities said was high-grade marijuana.
“Wherefore, premises considered, accused Juanito Jose Remulla III y Diaz is acquitted of the crime of violation of Section 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, on the ground of reasonable doubt,” read the 34-page decision penned by Acting Presiding Judge Ricardo Moldez II.
Full Story at: Remulla son walks free after acquittal in P1.3M drug possession case | Philstar.com
Marcos says admin planned quit call for top cops over drugs | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. admitted Friday that his administration has long been planning to call on top cops to submit their courtesy resignations supposedly to cleanse their ranks of links to the illegal drug trade.
Asked at the sidelines of his inspection of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport if Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos’ call for police officers to quit had his blessing, Marcos said, “We’ve been planning this for a while.”
Full Story at: Marcos says admin planned quit call for top cops over drugs | Philstar.com
Bantag: Remulla ordered drug lord to kill Percy Lapid | INQUIRER.NET – Suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag has turned the tables on Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, accusing him of masterminding the killing of radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa through a “grand conspiracy.”
In a 15-page complaint filed on Wednesday in the Office of the Ombudsman, Bantag claimed that Remulla ordered German Agojo, a drug lord under BuCor’s custody who was detained at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, “to look for killer/killers to liquidate Percy Lapid.” He added that Agojo then got in touch with alleged middleman Cristito “Jun Villamor” Palaña who contacted Joel Escorial about killing Mabasa.
Full Story at: Bantag: Remulla ordered drug lord to kill Percy Lapid | Inquirer News
Bayan Muna decries fast acquittal of DOJ chief Remulla’s son: ‘Sanaol’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines —Progressive organization Bayan Muna on Friday voiced its displeasure with the speed with which the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla was acquitted of illegal narcotics possession by a court in Las Pias City.
The group argued that all Filipinos, including political prisoners and the underserved, should have access to such preferential care, not just those in positions of power. People were very vocal about how outraged they were about the double standard that exists in modern society, it added.
Mainly because the prosecution could not truly show Juanito Jose Diaz Remulla III’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 197 acquitted him of narcotics possession charges. On October 11, 2022, Remulla III was arrested after receiving nearly a kilogram of kush, an extremely potent type of marijuana.
Full Story at: Bayan Muna decries fast acquittal of DOJ chief Remulla’s son: ‘Sanaol’ | Inquirer News
