Jonvic Remulla Apologizes After a Shirtless Man Mixing Cement Gets Ticketed
JONVIC REMULLA – The Interior and Local Government Secretary has issued a public apology following a viral incident in Mandaluyong City involving a man who was flagged and fined by authorities for not wearing a shirt while mixing cement near his home.
The situation gained widespread attention after the man’s wife, Norietta Lanquino from Barangay Addition Hills, questioned the actions of the authorities in a video that circulated online. She explained that her husband was simply working beside their house in a narrow alley and was not causing any disturbance. She also pointed out that authorities should have given proper notice before enforcing rules under the Safer Cities Initiative.
During a press conference on April 13, 2026, Remulla acknowledged the incident and took full responsibility, admitting that there was a lack of clear guidance in implementing the program. He explained that the confusion led authorities to wrongly penalize the man, even though he was not in a public setting. Remulla clarified that the goal of the Safer Cities Initiative is to maintain order and safety in public spaces, not to unfairly target individuals in private or harmless situations.
“Ako po’y humihingi ng paumanhin at pupuntahan ko po siya sa mga susunod na araw. Sasabihin ko na ako na po ang hihingi ng paumanhin,” he said. “It was my fault that I did not give clearer instructions on how to do the Safer Cities Initiative. Nagkulang po ako doon,” he added.
He expressed regret over the misunderstanding and emphasized that the mistake came from unclear instructions given to law enforcers. As a result, he committed to personally visiting the man in Mandaluyong to apologize, although the exact date of the visit has not yet been confirmed. “Mali po ‘yun, nagkamali po kami roon, and I take full responsibility,” he concluded.
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