The Las Piñas Regional Trial Court Branch 197 on Friday acquitted Juanito Jose Remulla III of the charge of illegal drug possession.

The court cited “reasonable doubt” as grounds for clearing the son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, pointing out that the prosecution failed to prove his guilt.

“Wherefore, premises considered, accused Juanito Jose Remulla lll y Diaz is acquitted of the crime of violation of Section 11, Article ll of Republic Act No. 9165, on the ground of reasonable doubt. So ordered,” said the decision signed by Acting Presiding Judge Ricardo A. Moldez.

Remulla, 38, was arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group at Talon Dos, Las Piñas on 11 October 2022 for having received a parcel containing “kush” or high-grade marijuana valued at P1.25 million.

At his arraignment, the younger Remulla pleaded not guilty to the illegal drug possession charge.

The court, according to Juanito’s counsel Pearlito Campanilla, cleared his client due to issues relating to the chain of custody of the evidence.

Campanilla said that in the affidavit of arrest of the PDEA agents, the agents admitted that the young Remulla was not expecting the parcel when it arrived at his house. When asked by the agents, Remulla denied knowing the shipper, one Benjamin Hopman.

Campanilla said Juanito also provided an ID with the name Juanito Jose Remulla III when he received the package, while the shipping form contained the name Jose Juanito Remulla.

“Unfortunately, apart from showing that the package or parcel was handed to the accused, the prosecution did not present other evidence to show that the former knew that it contained marijuana. The prosecution failed to show that  accused, by receiving the parcel, knew that he was also possessing illegal drugs,” said the Las Piñas court.

Remulla is still facing separate complaints for importation of dangerous drugs and violation f the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.

His camp, however, said they will secure his release soon upon the directive of the court since there is no arrest warrant yet for the second complaint.

His arrest earlier sparked calls for the resignation of his father, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said there was no basis for the older Remulla to step down.

The Justice chief had also vowed that he would neither intervene nor influence the investigation into his son’s case.