Remulla slams Isabela vice mayor’s ‘inexcusable’ behavior
MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has called out the behavior of Reina Mercedes, Isabela Vice Mayor Harold Respicio following his heated exchange with a barangay official during a municipal forum that has since gone viral online.
“His behavior was inexcusable,” Remulla said.
The Interior chief said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would look into what it could do to address Respicio’s conduct.
“This is what kids see and absorb as normal. This is a sad day for local government,” Remulla said.
The incident happened during a “Civilized Forum” at the Reina Mercedes municipal hall on Monday, October 5, where Respicio and the Barangay Sinippil chairman exchanged heated words.
According to Respicio, the forum was intended to look into how barangays were using funds from tobacco excise taxes.
The confrontation began when Respicio questioned a barangay captain about an alleged P5-million project that he claimed had not been implemented.
“Puro ghost project ang nangyayari sa pera ng taumbayan. Dapat ibigay na lang na cash sa mga tobacco farmers ang excise tax,” Respicio said.
The vice mayor raised his voice and called those present liars after he said the barangay official failed to directly answer whether the project had been started or completed.
One of the barangay captains then called out Respicio and told him he should not be shouting at them.
Respicio replied that they were in a “Civilized Forum” and that the issues were simply being discussed frankly.
The vice mayor later questioned the Barangay Sinippil chairman about alleged harassment of tobacco farmers.
The barangay captain responded and pointed at Respicio, triggering another heated exchange.
Despite attempts to intervene, the two continued arguing.
The barangay captain called Respicio “rude,” while the vice mayor called him a “thief.”
Respicio later apologized to the barangay captains and said they had forgiven each other over the incident.
But Respicio stood by his concerns over the use of tobacco excise taxes.
In a statement to ABS-CBN News, he maintained that tobacco excise taxes should directly benefit tobacco farmers.
“Huwag nakawin sa kanila ang pera sa pamamagitan ng ghost projects. Para siguradong hindi manakaw, ibigay na lang sa kanila nang cash,” Respicio said.
He also hit back at Remulla’s criticism, saying the Interior chief should focus on the issues he raised during the forum.
“He must focus on the ghost projects and the harassment of tobacco farmers,” Respicio said.
He further alleged that some individuals involved in the issues have a history of violence and harassment, including the use of firearms.
“These people have a reputation for being killers and for harassing their constituents with guns. There is a lot of evil and oppression happening in Reina Mercedes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the official Facebook page of Barangay Sinippil posted photos of its barangay health station, child development center and road projects, which it said were funded through tobacco excise taxes.
“Patunay na sa Barangay Sinippil, maayos at ramdam ang serbisyo para sa lahat,” the barangay said in its post.
The barangay captain has yet to issue a separate statement on the incident.