Jonvic Remulla

For his father, see Juanito Remulla Sr.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Catibayan and the surname or paternal family name is Remulla.

The Honourable Jonvic Remulla
42nd Secretary of the Interior and Local Government
Incumbent
Assumed office October 8, 2024
President	Bongbong Marcos
Preceded by	Benhur Abalos
Governor of Cavite
In office June 30, 2019 – October 8, 2024
Vice Governor	Jolo Revilla (2019–2022) Athena Tolentino (2022–2024)
Preceded by	Jesus Crispin Remulla
Succeeded by	Athena Tolentino
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Vice Governor	Recto Cantimbuhan (2010–2013) Jolo Revilla (2013–2016)
Preceded by	Ayong Maliksi
Succeeded by	Jesus Crispin Remulla
Vice Governor of Cavite
In office February 6, 1998 – June 30, 2007
Governor	Bong Revilla (1998–2001) Ayong Maliksi (2001–2007)
Preceded by	Bong Revilla
Succeeded by	Dencito Campaña
Member of the Cavite Provincial Board from the 2nd district
In office June 30, 1995 – February 6, 1998
Personal details
Born	Juanito Victor Catibayan Remulla Jr. (1967-10-23) October 23, 1967 Manila, Philippines
Political party	NUP (2021–present) Partido Magdalo (local)
Other political affiliations	UNA (2014–2016) Lakas–CMD (2012–2014) Nacionalista (2009–2012; 2016–2021) LDP (before 2005)
Spouse	Agnes Tirona
Children	6
Parent(s)	Juanito Remulla Sr. (father) Ditas Catibayan (mother)
Relatives	Jesus Crispin Remulla (brother) Gilbert Remulla (brother)
Residence(s)	Imus, Cavite Silang, Cavite
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman (AB)
Profession	Public servant, politician

Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Catibayan Remulla Jr. (Tagalog: [ˈdʒɔnbɪk rɛˈmuljɐ]; born October 23, 1967) is a Filipino politician serving as the secretary of the Interior and Local Government since 2024. He served as the governor of Cavite from 2019 to 2024 and from 2010 to 2016, and had previously served as vice governor and as a member of the Cavite Provincial Board. He is a son of former governor Juanito Remulla Sr. and sibling of fellow politicians Gilbert and Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Remulla entered politics in 1995, when he won as board member of the second district of Cavite. Three years later, in 1998, he was elected as vice governor, a post he held for three terms and in 2010, he became governor. He became a governor again when he defeated former governor Ayong Maliksi in the 2019 elections.

Early life and education

Remulla was born on October 23, 1967, to Juanito "Johnny" Remulla, who was then a member of the Cavite Provincial Board, and Ditas Catibayan. He is a member of the Remulla family, a known political dynasty in Cavite led by his father, who was later elected governor in 1979. He took up his secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila University. In college, he studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in philosophy.

Political career

Board member and Vice Governor (1995–2007)

In 1995, Remulla ran for board member of Cavite from the 2nd district and won. He ran for vice-governor in 1998 and was elected. Three years later, in 2001, he sought reelection with 2nd District Representative Ayong Maliksi, a protégé of his family, as his running mate and their tandem won. The two would win again in the 2004 elections.

Following the election, he broke ties with Maliksi when he filed an administrative case against Maliksi before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with an anomalous purchase of ₱7.5 million (about US$134,000) worth of rice in 2004. As a result, Maliksi was issued a six-month preventive suspension order on August 15, 2005, and he assumed office as acting governor. Maliksi filed a petition and his suspension was lifted on October 24, 2005, when he was granted a preliminary injunction. Remulla would become acting governor again on April 4, 2006, when the Court of Appeals lifted Maliksi's preliminary injunction. Nine months later, on January 10, 2007, Remulla became acting governor for the third time when the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the six-month preventive suspension order again on Maliksi. In a surprise announcement the same month, he said he would not run as governor against Maliksi in the May 2007 elections. Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez lifted the suspension order a month later for lack of merit.

Governor (2010–2016, 2019–2024)

Remulla with Vice President Jejomar Binay

Remulla made a comeback in politics in 2010, when he ran for governor. In the race, he defeated Vice Governor Dencito “Osboy” Campaña, who had the backing of Maliksi.

Under his tenure, Cavite was cited as one of the top-performing provinces in the Philippines by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Also, it is the first and only province to be ISO 9001:2008 certified.

In the 2013 elections, Remulla sought a second term as governor, with actor and Cavite Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Barangays) President Jolo Revilla, son of Senator Bong Revilla and 2nd district Representative Lani Mercado, as his running mate. Maliksi challenged him in the race. During the campaign, Remulla accused Maliksi of being involved in the anomalous LRT extension project, where ₱500 million (about US$11.162 million) was allotted for 2,000 housing units, road, lighting and water projects, relocation sites and payments for the residents directly affected by the development. Remulla even threatened to resign if his allegations are proven wrong. And he said Mas mabuti ang mamigay, wag lang magnakaw (transl. It's better to give, not to steal) Despite most surveys showing Maliksi would beat him by a wide margin, Remulla went on to win the election by more than 50,000 votes. Jolo Revilla also won, beating Maliksi's running mate, Ronald Jay Lacson, son of Senator Panfilo Lacson.

He was named as one of People Asia magazine's "People of the Year" in 2013, along with 2013 Miss World Megan Young.

In 2014, Remulla was assigned by Vice President Jejomar Binay as his new spokesperson. Remulla was supposed to run for his last term as governor in 2016 but he decided to quit as Binay asked him to become Secretary of the Interior and Local Government should Binay win the presidency. His brother, Jesus Crispin, ran in his stead and later won. However, as of April 29, 2016, Remulla was confirmed to have left Binay's camp in support of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte.

Remulla successfully sought a comeback as governor in 2019, defeating former Governor Maliksi for the second time. He sought for re-election 2022 and won, this time with Tagaytay councilor Athena Tolentino, the daughter of 8th district representative Abraham Tolentino, as his running mate. He also supported the successful campaign of presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte.

Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (2024–present)

Remulla with President Bongbong Marcos during a situation briefing with his Cabinet on the effects of the tropical storm on October 23, 2024

Remulla initially intended to run for his third and last consecutive term as the Governor of Cavite in the 2025 Philippine general election. However, he withdrew his certificate of candidacy on October 7, 2024, six days after filing it, and was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, succeeding the outgoing DILG Secretary and senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos, and eventually vacating the post of the Governor of Cavite, of which Vice Governor Athena Tolentino would later succeed him and assumed the governorship on same day of October 8, 2024, to finish out Remulla's remaining gubernatorial term. Remulla took oath as secretary on October 8, 2024.

Personal life

Remulla is married to Agnes Tirona, a physician, with whom he has five children.

Remulla is the team manager of the UP Fighting Maroons (Men's Senior Basketball Team) and was instrumental in recruiting and building the team which eventually ended a 32-year finals drought in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). In game 1 of the 2018 Season 81 basketball finals against top-ranked Ateneo Blue Eagles, Remulla was handed a technical foul in violation of the "cooling-off" period when he attempted to approach the game officials prior to the start of the 3rd quarter.

Remulla is also a fan of South Korean entertainment, noting how Korean dramas and K-pop inspire Filipinos and strengthen cultural ties, as Koreans are also the top tourists in the Philippines. He believes in learning from Korea's achievements, seeing their success as a model Filipinos can aspire to.