Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla took oath as the new secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday.

His oath-taking was held in the Malacañan Palace hours after Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed to reporters in a Viber message on Tuesday morning that the chief executive chose the Cavite governor as a replacement for Benjamin Abalos Jr.

Abalos filed his certificate of candidacy for senator and, hence, automatically resigned from his Cabinet post as a presidential appointee.

Chavez’s confirmation came after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told reporters on Monday evening about the appointment of his brother as the new DILG chief.

Jonvic Remulla has been in politics for almost three decades, starting his political career as a board member of the Second District of Cavite province. He was elected vice governor in 1998 and served three terms.

He became governor of Cavite after winning in the 2019 election.

by Luisa Cabato, reprinted with permission from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, photo credit to the Daily Tribune