MANILA, Philippines — The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) is set to tackle on Wednesday the ad interim appointments of Jonvic Remulla as newly designated secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Marilyn Barua-Yap as chairperson of the Civil Service Commission.
In a statement, CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel emphasized that with less than six months away from the 2025 midterm elections, the DILG’s functions are vital in government operations.
“There’s a high chance that Secretary Remulla will be confirmed on the spot, given that we are less than six months away from the 2025 midterm elections,” Pimentel said.
“We need the DILG’s peace and order functions as we approach the campaign period and the May 12 elections. The country is prone to spikes in violent incidents around election time,” he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that the DILG chief supervises the Philippine National Police, among other agencies responsible for ensuring public safety and enhancing local government capability to deliver basic services.
Pimentel said that the CA’s committee on the interior and local government chaired by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri has scheduled Remulla’s confirmation hearing at 10 a.m.
Remulla resigned as Cavite governor when President Marcos appointed him to head the DILG on Oct. 8.
Remulla succeeded Benhur Abalos, who resigned as DILG secretary to run for senator in the coming elections.
Remulla is the younger brother of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was a colleague of the Chief Executive at the House of Representatives when the latter and Marcos were congressmen of Cavite and Ilocos Norte, respectively.
Remulla also belongs to Upsilon Sigma Phi, the University of the Philippines fraternity of Marcos’ father, the former president Ferdinand Sr., where the incumbent President’s first cousin, current Speaker Martin Romualdez, is also a member.
Under the Constitution, the 25-member CA is empowered to vet the competence, fitness and integrity of key presidential appointees and to approve or reject them.
The CA is composed of 12 members each from the House and the Senate, with the Senate president serving as ex-officio presiding officer.