The name “Remulla” has been making waves on X, formerly Twitter, for reasons that are both intriguing and somewhat amusing.
While the last name “Remulla” holds significant weight in Philippine politics, this current trend does not refer to Marcos administration’s Justice Secretary Crispin “Boying” Remulla. Instead, it focuses on Gilbert Remulla, the youngest brother of Boying, who is a former journalist and was once a member of Congress.
The surge in Gilbert Remulla’s online presence is attributed to a now-viral X post where he took on the country’s giant drugstore Mercury Drug, a move that quickly earned him Community Notes for what was perceived as a lack of accurate information.
In his tweet, Remulla expressed, “It’s about time Mercury Drug gets some serious competition. I hope a businessman, entrepreneur, or conglomerate can put something together,” sharing a snapshot of the drug store’s counter where employees are visibly at work.
Sharing his discontent, Remulla stated, “Their waiting time and service are so bad.”
However, the online discourse quickly shifted from service-related concerns to political jabs, with some netizens mocking Gilbert for advocating competition while his family, a political dynasty in Cavite, seemingly lacks political competition.
Questions arose, questioning whether Remulla was indirectly endorsing cronyism to challenge the drug store giant.
A Community Note appended to his post provided a list of Mercury Drug’s top competitors, including GA2 Pharmacy, The Generics Pharmacy (TGP), Muramed, and Watsons Pharmacy.
Additionally, it suggested ordering online through their website or app for convenience, aiming to address concerns about long lines.
Comments on Remulla’s post escalated into a political and contentious debate, as many defended Mercury Drug while some labeled him “entitled”.
Verified users shared their experiences, highlighting waiting times in government agencies and other establishments, prompting a diverse array of responses.
“It’s about time Remullas get some serious competition. I hope a businessman, entrepreneur, or conglomerate can put something together,” commented X user Ralf Sunga, encapsulating the ongoing controversy surrounding the Remulla name on social media.
“Sir Gilbert, with due respect po, mas malala ang waiting time sa government agencies natin po, at some offices po, need pa pumila ng days or early morning just to get priority numbers kasi po limited lang daw nagproprocess nila po. Ayun lang po, thank you,” commented verified user Ceejay.
“Sana maranasan mo PUMILA SA PAG-iBIG X PHILHEALTH X SSS X BIR X MRT X LRT X PNR X FASTFOOD .. etc. PARA LAHAT NALANG PALITAN MO NG IBA. Mas ok ‘yun. Hay, my waiting time and your service are so bad,” another verified user Deal Lipez Dacles commented.
“Na-try niyo na po ba Sir pumila sa MRT/LRT?” asked one verified X user, Pablo. “It depends on the branch and time. Feeling entitled ka kasi. New Year na. Change is good. Be a good person,” another netizen commented.
“I feel the same about political dynasties minsan,” said X user Persona Au Gratin.
The Daily Netizen 