Remulla to pursue judicial reforms amid son’s arrest on drug charges
Life, he said, is too short for us to not act on the problems we have today.
Justice Secretary Crispin R. Remulla said the negative criticisms hounding his eldest son's arrest over alleged involvement in the importation of P1.3 million worth of high-grade marijuana will not stop him from implementing the needed reforms in the justice system.
"This will inspire me to double my pace. Napakarami hong due yesterday. Hindi pwede maghintay ang mga pagbabago sa sistema ng hustisya (A lot of work was due yesterday. Changes in the justice system cannot wait)," Remulla said in an interview with SMNI Friday.
Admitting that he considers the arrest of his 39-year-old son Juanito Jose Remulla III as only a test for him and his family, and how the country will handle a sensitive matter, he said he will just let justice takes its course as Secretary of the Department of Justice.
"Even from the very beginning when I found out, I didn't ask anyone for a favor, I told my wife to just get him a lawyer so he can defend himself. It's a basic right to be presumed innocent," said Remulla who just came from an engagement with the United Nation Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
He said he has not talked with his son nor with anyone at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency where his son is detained.
"May abogado rin na nagpunta sa kaniya pero hindi ako nangingialam kahit kilala ko ho yan. Kasi sa posisyon kong ito kahit kilala ko halos lahat ng tao diyan (PDEA) wala akong kinakausap para tumulong (A lawyer already went to see my son but I didn't bother to intervene. Because in my position, even though I know almost everyone there (PDEA), I don't talk to anyone to help," he added.
He went on to say that even in the past as a lawyer himself, he never asked a judge a favor to acquit anybody.
"It's not in my character. It's wrong, really wrong," he said. "The system has to work. I am on top of the system. I trust the system will work."
He admitted that he and his son have disagreements, but it is for their family to deal with.
Drugs, a huge problem
"For me, there is so much work to do. Reforming the justice system is one of the hardest tasks given to anybody in this country. I am not complaining because I am for these reforms," said Remulla.