Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary  Jonvic Remulla presents to the media, Russian Vlogger Vitaly Zdororvetskiy during a briefing at the Quezon City Reception House on April 7, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177083133212520250826-dilg-remulla-torre-relieved-MT7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito “Jonvic” Remulla holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said he plans to visit the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan, following the Chinese Embassy announcement that the town’s officials are barred from entering China.</p><p>In a text message, Remulla stressed his personal commitment to assert Philippine sovereignty, saying he would go to Kalayaan “then they should ban me.”</p><p>The Kalayaan Island Group has been in the news in recent weeks partly over remarks by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta seeming to suggest giving them up to simplify the issue of the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>He says his remarks, which were captured on video, were taken out of context.</p><p>“The Kalayaan group of islands is part of our territorial waters,&quot; Remulla said Wednesday. </p><p>&quot;In fact, it has its own LGU. I will pay them a visit soon to reinvigorate our sovereign claim,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/8/what-is-the-kalayaan-group-of-islands-and-why-is-it-important-to-ph-2056">What is the Kalayaan Group of Islands and why is it important to PH?<br/></a></div><p>Discovered and claimed by Tomas Cloma in 1947, Kalayaan became part of the Philippines in 1978 through Presidential Decree No. 1596.</p><p>“I will go there to bolster our sovereignty. I hope that they ban me because of my service to the country. I am Filipino. I will never submit myself to countries who want to subjugate us,” Remulla added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/11/de-lima-calls-for-house-support-for-reso-vs-chinese-embassy-remarks-1516">De Lima calls for House support for reso vs Chinese Embassy remarks<br/></a></div><p>The Chinese Embassy earlier announced that officials of Kalayaan are not welcome in China, including its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macao.</p><p>The move comes after the Kalayaan local government unit declared Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata within its municipal jurisdiction, citing alleged violations of diplomatic protocol and interference in Philippine internal affairs.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/11/philippines-says-china-ban-vs-kalayaan-officials-does-not-foster-good-ties-1205">DFA says China ban vs Kalayaan officials does not foster good ties<br/></a></div><p>The Department of the Interior and Local Government has yet to release details on Remulla&#x27;s planned visit.</p>

<p>Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said he plans to visit the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan, following the Chinese Embassy announcement that the town’s officials are barred from entering China.</p>

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said he plans to visit the municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan, following the Chinese Embassy announcement that the town’s officials are barred from entering China.

'I hope they ban me': Remulla plans trip to Kalayaan after China bans LGU officials

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'I hope they ban me': Remulla plans trip to Kalayaan after China bans LGU officials

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 11, 2026 06:27 PM PHT

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Updated February 12, 2026 01:36 AM PHT

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Jonvic Remulla

Kalayaan

Kalayaan Island Group

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