Outgoing DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos formally turns over the leadership of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to incoming Secretary Jonvic Remulla at the DILG-NAPOLCOM Center in Quezon City on October 9, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Outgoing Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. on Wednesday formally turned over his post to Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr., as the former seeks to run in the 2025 senatorial race.

Abalos, a longtime politician, admitted heading the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) had been his most challenging post yet, but said he believed his term was a success.

“Napakalawak po ng kapangyarihan ng DILG. Ako po’y naging alkalde ng Mandaluyong, naging congressman, naging MMDA chairman. Ito na siguro ang pinakamahirap na posisyon na hinawakan ko — ang maging secretary ng DILG. Ngunit mahirap man, nalampasan namin lahat ng hamon. And I’m proud to say it has been a successful term,” Abalos said, acknowledging the efforts of other DILG employees.

Jonvic Remulla is new DILG chief, steps down as Cavite governor

Abalos expressed confidence he was leaving the department in the hands of a “very, very capable and qualified person.”

Remulla said the DILG would be “very difficult to manage.”

“But I think with the 30 years of experience behind me, I know what it takes,” he said.

Remulla served in the local government of Cavite for nearly 3 decades. He has stepped down as governor, with his vice governor Athena Tolentino replacing him as head of the Philippines’ second most vote-rich province.

The former 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.

Remulla did not announce any new policy as he was still set to meet with assistant and undersecretaries in the department.

He said there would be no major shakeup and dramatic announcements necessary as he takes the helm of the DILG. 

ISLAND COVE POGO 

Meanwhile, Remulla said the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub operating in Island Cove, his family’s former resort property in Cavite, would be shut down on December 15.

In a chance interview with reporters, Remulla said he had personally spoken by phone and warned the POGO operator in his province about the government’s crackdown in his last act as Cavite governor.

The Cavite POGO voluntarily set the December 15 shut down, Remulla said.

He said he would personally oversee the shutdown of all POGO hubs, 80 percent of which operate in Metro Manila.

“Hindi lang sila (POGO hub in Cavite). I will go to each and everyone,” Remulla said. “December 31 is the directive of the president. So within December 15 to 31, we will make sure that everything is closed.”

New SILG Remulla says will padlock POGO hub in Island Cove, Cavite

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier set a December 31 deadline to ban POGOs in the country following their alleged link to criminal activities and security concerns.

“I will get all the list of POGOs and I will personally lock them down one by one, personally, lahat sila,” he said.

Authorities raid illegal POGO 'scam hub' in Pasay

Remulla had repeatedly denied that he and his family had been protectors of POGOs, even offering a P10 million reward to anyone who could prove their ties in the operations of the POGO hub in Island Cove. He said his family sold the property in 2018.

BI reminds foreign POGO workers of October 15 deadline to downgrade visas

PNP BACKS NEW SILG

The Philippine National Police, an attached agency of the DILG, assured Remulla of its full support.

“We welcome iyong bagong talaga po na ating kalihim at nasabi na po natin ito na kung anuman po iyong suporta na ibinigay natin doon sa mga nakaraang kalihim po ay iyon po iyong ie-expect din po na suporta ng ating bagong kalihim sa PNP,” PNP Chief Information Officer and Spokesperson BGen Jean Fajardo said in a televised briefing.

“At doon naman po sa mga iba pang mga issue ay we want to assure po iyong ating bagong kalihim, the PNP will be 100 percent behind him at kung may mga polisiya po siya at mga programang ipatutupad para mas lalo pong mag-improve po iyong ating pagbigay po ng serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan ay open po tayo at susunod po tayo diyan,” she said.

In an interview on Tuesday, Remulla said he would recommend to Marcos some policies to further streamline the PNP.

“I think we're top-heavy, I think we need to streamline the organization. I think that there are many superfluous positions in the institution, and I think there's a lot of changes needed to be done,” he said.

— With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News