DILG chief denies Duterte’s arrest was premeditated

Manila Bulletin

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. on Thursday, March 20 admitted that a meeting took place between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and several Cabinet officials but this was to address rumors of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s impending arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and not to plan it.   READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/20/dilg-chief-denies-duterte-s-arrest-was-premeditated  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00So what exactly did you say, what exactly did you say, what did you say, we understand that these four names were the ones who planned it.

00:11Ma'am, we're already invoking executive privilege in this matter.

00:15Yes.

00:16We're invoking executive privilege in this matter.

00:17Yes, that's fine, but it's in the interview, and it's public.

00:20Yes, ma'am, it goes as far as the interview, ma'am.

00:22Yes, ma'am.

00:23Yes, I'd like to understand, I think your brother's trying to explain what he said in the interview.

00:29They asked me if I planned it, I said it was not me.

00:32There were other people in the room, but we did not discuss any plans of any arrest.

00:37Where did these names come from?

00:39Ma'am, that again is executive privilege.

00:42Ma'am, let me explain first, ma'am.

00:44But it's in the interview.

00:45Yes, ma'am.

00:46It's clear.

00:47Let me explain first, ma'am.

00:48We were discussing rumors of an impending arrival based on…

00:52It doesn't seem like that's what came to us.

00:54That is the whole truth, ma'am.

00:57That is what we were discussing, rumors.

01:01Go ahead, ma'am.

01:07And who was really on top of this?

01:09Was it you? Because during the press conference, the president, it was you and the president.

01:15Yes.

01:16So, was it you who planned all of this?

01:18No, no.

01:20It was a group effort.

01:22Secretary Chidoro was there.

01:24Secretary Anyong was there too.

01:26And the president and I.

01:27So, it wasn't me.

01:29Stand by that, ma'am.

01:30I was the last man standing in Malacanang.

01:32Stand by that.

01:33Because Secretary Chidoro was working out of his office.

01:36What you said is very clear.

01:37Yes, ma'am.

01:38Secretary Anyong, of course, is…

01:40Yes, ma'am.

01:41Let's close this first.

01:42What you said is very clear.

01:44What you said is that I wasn't alone, even though I was with the president during the press conference.

01:49I wasn't the only one who planned it.

01:51It was a group effort.

01:52And then you reminded me.

01:54No, ma'am.

01:55But you said…

01:56I state, ma'am, again, executive privilege.

01:58But, ma'am, I…

01:59There is no executive privilege because you already said it on TV.

02:03I must state it very clear.

02:04I must state it very clear that there was no mastermind.

02:08We were discussing mainly about what the president's statements were in Hong Kong.

02:14And it was based all on that statement, ma'am.

02:17You said that you weren't the only one who planned it.

02:21There was no planning, ma'am.

02:23But that's what you said.

02:24I said, I didn't plan it.

02:26There was a group who planned it.

02:30We were all talking about a rumor, ma'am.

02:32And that was all.

02:34It was just a rumor?

02:36Yes, ma'am.

02:37You said it was a group effort.

02:38His question was if you planned it.

02:41Then you said it was a group effort.

02:43There was no planning, ma'am.

02:45What is the effort of a group if it's not planned?

02:49Ma'am, let me make it clear.

02:50I think that we're intruding into executive privilege already, ma'am.

02:53I think that we disrespect our…

02:55No, I'm just asking him to explain the media.

02:57Yes, ma'am.

02:58But it's already a very thin dividing line between what transpires in a room,

03:04between cabinet members and a media statement.

03:07But it's a very thin dividing line, ma'am.

03:09Understood.

03:10I hope that we can respect executive privilege.

03:12Understood.

03:13And as Secretary Chodoro is fully aware,

03:16every time there's a need to recess to executive session,

03:19I'm happy to do so.

03:21And I will do so when necessary.

03:23But now, it was said on TV.

03:25Please explain to us what it means.

03:28Because it was said, I wasn't the only one who planned it.

03:31There was a group of us.

03:32They asked me if I had planned it.

03:33Sabi ko, I did not.

03:34I did not plan it.

03:36I said we were there.

03:38And not to skirt, ma'am, executive privilege,

03:41it was mainly because of the statements of the former president in Hong Kong

03:47that he said, in his words, ma'am, in Hong Kong,

03:54I think you have a clip.

03:55He said that,

03:56ang riddig ko ay may ICC warrant of arrest na.

04:01That was the best of my recollection, ma'am.

04:04So, anong pinag-group effortan?

04:07To discuss the rumor, ma'am?

04:09Again, ma'am, as far as I will invoke executive privilege,

04:14there was no, you cannot plan on a rumor, ma'am.

04:17Kaya nagtataka ako, bakit group effort?

04:20Eh, chismis lang naman yun.

04:21Chismis nga.

04:22Kaya nga, kung chismis, bakit magu-group effort pa?

04:25Tapos pinangalanan mo ba lahat na nag-group effort?

04:27Maraming marites sa mundan to, ma'am.

04:30It was a discussion of a rumor

04:33based on the statement of the president in Hong Kong.

04:43It was a discussion of a rumor

04:46based on the statement of the president in Hong Kong.

04:49So you deny that you're part and parcel of the planning

04:51and that the other persons you named,

04:53hindi rin sila kasali dun sa pagkaplanong?

04:56Again, ma'am, we were discussing the statement of the former president

05:00while he was in Hong Kong,

05:02that he said that there was a,

05:04he said, in his words,

05:10So that was the only basis of the conversation, ma'am.

05:14So ito yung group effort ninyo?

05:16Pinagtulung-tulungan ninyo yung isang bahagyang chismis?

05:20It was, ma'am, all of that is, again,

05:23a statement of the former president, not ours.

05:26Okay, so walang kinalaman ito.

05:28Pero para lamang sa kaprasong chismis,

05:31magtitipon-tipon pa yung mga sekretary ng Kabinete.

05:34Nakakatuwa naman.

05:36Call it what you may, ma'am.

05:38Walang magawa.

05:39Opo, anyway, nabanggit na, paulit-ulit itong Interpol, ano.

05:43At nabanggit na ng SOJ.

05:45At alam naman natin...

05:47Ma'am, if I may, since our name was alluded to,

05:53the Department of National Defense

05:55and the Armed Forces of the Philippines

05:57has no law enforcement mandate.

06:00Our sole mandate is to give support

06:02to the Philippine National Police when it is asked for.

06:08And therefore, such ends our jurisdiction.

06:13The operation is clearly a law enforcement one,

06:18and the Philippine National Police

06:20has the power to ask the armed forces to assist.

06:25And that is the extent of the participation

06:27of my department and the armed forces of the Philippines.

06:31And all other matters in supporting

06:35the Philippine National Police

06:37are covered by operational security.

06:48.

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Transcript

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