Remulla apologizes amid backlash over tone of DILG's suspension posts
The Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has issued a public apology for the backlash caused by his recent announcements regarding class and work suspensions on social media.
"Siguro hindi nila ako naiintindihan. Pabiro talaga ako," Remulla said in a July 23 interview with GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita. "Hindi ko naman minamaliit ang pinaghihirapan nila. Ang ginagawa ko lang, ang pagpapaalala ay ginagawa kong mas magaan para hindi naman negative vibes lagi ang naririnig."
He added, "Kung 'di naman nila naiintindihan ay humihingi ako ng pasensiya. Pero ganoon talaga pagkatao ko. Ano na lang, intindihin na lang ito na wala naman akong masamang intensiyon."
In a new Facebook post, the DILG issued an apology but continued to use the same lighthearted tone as its earlier announcements.
"Ang daming letga. Pasensya na, pero hindi na ako magbabago ng ugali. Kung ang biro ko ay di karapat-dapat para sa inyo, tandaan ninyong wala naman akong minura, minaliit, o hinamak. Wala rin akong binola o sinabing kasinungalingan. A little humor never hurt anyone. Please standby for class suspension announcements. I have the full data from DOST/PAGASA… in other words, ABANG lang kayo," Remulla wrote, adding a face palm and laughing with tears emoji.
On Tuesday, July 22, the DILG's Facebook page, acting under authorization while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was in the U.S., shared advisories for class and work suspensions. These posts, however, opted for a lighthearted and humorous tone rather than a formal announcement, which led to public criticism.
"Mga Abangers, may inaabangan ba kayo? Mamaya na kain muna ako," one of the posts read, with the message appearing to come from Remulla.
"Mga Abangers, sarap ng bogchi ko. Sa kabusugan ay naka idlip nang sandali. Oh eto na inaabangan ninyo: Walang pasok sa lahat ng baitang kasama kolehiyo at seminarista, at mga tanggapan ng gobyerno para sa July 23, 2025," read another post.
The DILG later made a correction on the announcement and included Pampanga and Cavite in the list. In the caption, they wrote, "Sorry na. Wow Mali ako. Kasama kayo sa walang pasok. Manual kasi ang pag kopya ko ng kodigo mula OCD (Office of Civil Defense). Chill lang kayo mga bro. Mahal ko talaga kayo. Sorry na."
The public, including celebrities Jake Ejercito and Jessy Mendiola, quickly criticized the posts, arguing that it was inappropriate to use humor when announcing suspensions during severe weather.
"There's a time and place for trying to be funny—this isn't one of them," Ejercito said.
"Is this supposed to be funny?" Mendiola added, affixing a broken heart emoji.
Other users took a more objective stance, expressing understanding of the circumstances in the post, and some found the posts amusing, not mind the lighthearted tone.
Marcos reacts
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has defended the DILG's new role in handling class suspension announcements, saying the goal is to avoid public confusion by providing a single, clear source. When asked about Remulla's recent posts, he emphasized that clarity is what matters most.
"Criticize people. Criticize me for the way I speak. But what – that’s the way I speak; that’s the way he speaks," he said during an interview in Washington, DC on July 23 (Manila time). "As long as he gets the message across, that's what it's for. That's what all of these postings are for and get some information across. And as long as he achieves that, then he is… He manages to do what he sets out to do."
Meanwhile, according to the July 23 advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Tropical Depression Dante has developed into a Tropical Storm, while Tropical Depression Emong has already entered the Philippine area of responsibility.