Ambassador Gustavo Gonzalez, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines, paid his end-of-mission courtesy visit to Secretary of Justice Jesus Crispin “Boying” C. Remulla today, 16 January 2025. The UN Resident Coordinator is due to complete his mission to the Philippines by the end of the month.
The UN representative in the Philippines expressed his profound gratitude to Secretary Remulla for the trust and support received from the Department under SOJ Remulla’s leadership during his tenure as UN representative. He acknowledged the Secretary for his “great leadership” in handling a lot of critical and sensitive matters that the Philippine government has faced since their assumption into office. He likewise congratulated the Secretary for the success of the United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP) on Human Rights and of several high-level events before several United Nations bodies, like the UN Human Rights Council. Most notably, the UN Amb. Gonzalez heaped praise on the Secretary for the realization of a lot of reforms in the criminal justice sector that he heard from him barely two years ago. Finally, he encouraged the Secretary to continue making the most of UN’s support, especially in light of its expanded capacity and presence of several UN offices in the Philippines.
Secretary Remulla graciously thanked Ambassador Gonzalez as well for the support to the Philippine government. He expressed the need and intention to partner with UN on recent initiatives where UN’s expertise on highly technical matters may prove valuable. Among others, the Secretary mentioned about the integration of the government’s jail management and corrections systems into a single harmonized and seamless correction-reformation system, as well as addressing recent threats brought about by cybercrimes. The Secretary likewise shared in the meeting that the introduction of law enforcement reforms has been made easier and faster because of the appointment of his brother, Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, which agency exercises administrative control and general supervision over the Philippine National Police (PNP), the country’s primary law enforcement agency.
Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres, Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz, and DOJ Human Rights Office Program Director Hazel C. Decena-Valdez, joined the Secretary in the meeting, while Ambassador Gonzalez was accompanied by UN Senior Human Rights Adviser Signe Poulsen and UN Resident Coordinator Office Chief of Staff Matija Kovac.
"It is an honor to have our friends from the United Nations here in our country to join us in promoting human rights. Your unwavering commitment to champion human rights throughout the world serves as a constant reminder for the Filipino people to never falter in defending and safeguarding the life and dignity of every person," Secretary Remulla said.
