Juanito Remulla Sr.

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

Juanito "Johnny" Reyes Remulla Sr. (Tagalog: [hwɐˈnitɔ rɛˈmuljɐ]; April 14, 1933 – December 29, 2014) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the longest sitting governor of Cavite.

The Honorable Juanito R. Remulla Sr.
27th Governor of Cavite
In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1995
Preceded by	Fernando C. Campos
Succeeded by	Epimaco Velasco
In office September 24, 1979 – February 19, 1986
Preceded by	Dominador Camerino
Succeeded by	Fernando C. Campos
Vice Governor of Cavite
In office 1972 – July 24, 1979
Governor	Dominador Camerino (acting)
Delegate of the 1971 Constitutional Convention
In office June 1, 1971 – December 30, 1971
Member of the Cavite Provincial Board
In office 1964–1970
Personal details
Born	Juanito Reyes Remulla April 14, 1933 Imus, Cavite, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, U.S.
Died	December 29, 2014(2014-12-29) (aged 81) Muntinlupa, Philippines
Political party	Partido Magdalo (1986–2014)
Other political affiliations	Nationalist People's Coalition (1992–1995) Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1980–1986)
Spouse	Ditas Catibayan
Children	7 (including Jesus Crispin/Boying, Juanito Victor, Jr./Jonvic, and Gilbert)
Residence(s)	Imus, Cavite
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B)
Occupation	Lawyer
Profession	Politician

Early life

Remulla was born on April 14, 1933, in Toclong, Imus, Cavite to Crispin and Teofista (née Reyes) Remulla. He was a valedictorian in the Medicion Elementary School in Imus and first honorable mention in the high school department of the Francisco Law College. He landed fourth in the 1956 Bar examinations after graduating from the College of Law in the University of the Philippines. While there, he was a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi.^[1]

Legal career

Remulla was a lawyer and a business executive before he entered the government service. He was the senior partner in the Remulla, Estrella & Associates Law Office and the chairman of the board of Covelandia Island Resort in Binakayan in Kawit, Cavite at the same time. Owing to his brilliant scholastic record, Remulla was chosen awardee of the Colombo Plan Scholarship, Institute of Local Government, in Birmingham, England (1966–67).

In May 1958, Remulla assisted Marikina banker Romeo Liamzon and his girlfriend in holding a secret marriage ceremony in Imus, Cavite, where he signed an affidavit falsely claiming Liamzon to be a resident of Imus; a court case between Liamzon and his partner later found no records of a marriage license being issued.^[2]

Political life

Acting Governor and delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention

He was appointed as acting governor in 1964 and 1965. His two brief stints in the executive office must have so impressed the Caviteños that in the election of delegates to the 1971 Constitutional Convention Remulla, 38, the youngest candidate, garnered the highest number of votes, besting his three more senior and experienced colleagues. Remulla was already a member of the provincial board and elected to the provincial board in 1972, he became vice governor the same year.

Governor of Cavite

Two months after the death of Dominador Camerino on July 24, 1979, he holds the distinction of being the last appointed governor of Cavite on September 25. Finally, in the election for governor on January 30, 1980, Remulla, the KBL candidate, obtained an overwhelming majority over his Nacionalista opponent, Fernando Campos. As a Marcos ally, he is one of the local government executives forced to resign during the early days of Corazon Aquino administration.^[3] In 1988, he was re-elected as Governor until 1995, when he was defeated by outgoing NBI director Epimaco Velasco.

Personal life

He married Ditas Catibayan and had seven children, including Jesus Crispin (also known as Boying), the incumbent Secretary of Justice; Gilbert, a former representative; and Juanito Victor or Jonvic, the incumbent Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. One of his grandchildren is incumbent representative Crispin Diego, and one of his great-grandchildren is singer and beauty queen Dia Maté.

Death

He died on December 29, 2014, aged 81, from multiple organ failure.^[4]