MANILA — Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday confirmed that he has been appointed the new Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary after former Interior chief Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. vacated the post to run for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.

In a social media post, Remulla said he is accepting the challenge to be the head of the DILG.

“Ito po ay aking buong pusong tinanggap upang makatulong di lamang sa ating lalawigan kundi para na din sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.

“Ang aking adhikain mula noon pa man ay ang ipagtibay ang kakayahan ng lokal na pamahalaan at kapulisan para maging pantay ang karapatan ng lahat at tungo sa mas mabuting kinabukasan,” he said.

Remulla said he intends to improve the services of local government and the police through dialogues with stakeholders.

“Ito po ay hindi makakamit sa puro salita lamang or worse, ang pang-aaway ng walang hanggan,” he said.

“This can only be done through consensus building, community empowerment, and enhancing civic responsibility,” he said.

The Cavite governor is the second Remulla in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet as Jesus Crispin Remulla - an elder sibling - is serving as the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Earlier this year, the Remullas were accused of being “protectors” of illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the country after Island Cove — the clan’s former resort property in Cavite — was sold to a Filipino-Chinese businessman, who then converted it into an alleged POGO hub.

Then-governor Remulla offered a P10-million reward to anyone who can prove his ties with POGOs.

Cavite Gov. Remulla offers P10-M to anyone who can prove his family’s ties to POGO

Remulla served in the local government of Cavite for nearly 3 decades, including nearly 12 years as governor.

“I think I will leave the province much better than when I first came in,” he said, noting that Cavite has the country’s “largest state university system for a province” with nearly 100,000 students enrolled in the current school year.

“Maraming salamat sa pagkakataon na ibinigay ninyo sa akin bilang inyong gobernador. Isa pong napakalaking karangalan ang makapaglingkod sa inyong lahat,” he said.

“Ngayon naman po ay kailangan ko ang inyong dasal para ako po ay magtagumpay sa aking bagong tanggapan,” he said.

Remulla also asked for prayers, and hoped that his constituents would still accept him should he decide to return to an elective post in the future.

“Ang tagumpay ko po ay tagumpay ng bawat Caviteño at ng bawat Pilipino at kung sakali man ako ay bumalik sa paglilingkod sa lalawigan ay sana po tangkilikin ninyo akong muli,” he said.

“Being Governor is the only job I ever wanted. Serving all of you has given me immense joy and fulfillment. An honor of a lifetime,” he said.

Cavite Vice Governor Athena Tolentino is expected to replace Remulla as head of the Philippines’ second most vote-rich province.