DILG Chief Jonvic Remulla Says Sorry for Raising His Voice at Senate Leaders
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has apologized after raising his voice at Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano during the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada inside the Senate premises.
Remulla explained that the situation was tense but said his actions were not personal and were part of carrying out his official duty in serving a warrant. He said he remained calm for most of the incident and only raised his voice once during the exchange. He also expressed his apologies to any Senate members who may have been offended by what happened.
In separate remarks, Remulla stressed that while emotions were high, the situation was not exaggerated, and he maintained a professional approach throughout the process. He also acknowledged the concerns raised by some senators but stood by his explanation of how events unfolded.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta earlier criticized Remulla’s behavior, saying he felt disrespected by how the Senate President was treated during the incident. He said it was disappointing that Cayetano was shouted at and felt that the Senate was not given proper respect during the arrest, which made some senators feel belittled.
The arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada happened on Monday inside the Senate over charges involving alleged large-scale plunder and graft amounting to hundreds of millions of pesos. The incident created tension among lawmakers present at the time.
Some senators from the majority bloc said the minority did not formally protest the incident. However, Senator Panfilo Lacson disagreed, saying the criticism was misplaced. He pointed out that instead of complaining, some senators were actually relieved that the situation did not escalate further, noting that Remulla did not physically harm anyone during the confrontation.
Senator Risa Hontiveros also commented on the issue, saying that all reactions and emotions surrounding the incident are valid. She added that concerns about Senator Estrada’s condition were also genuine and that personal concern and respect still exist among colleagues despite political differences.