MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) defended its participation in representing the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in the filing of a sedition complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo and 35 others, saying its action was within its mandate under the law.
“By law (Executive Order No. 292, Instituting the ‘Administrative Code of 1987,’ Section 35, Book IV, July 25, 1987), the OSG is the principal lawyer of Republic of the Philippines, and all its agencies and departments, which includes, among others, the PNP-CIDG,” the OSG said in a statement Wednesday.
OSG pointed out that it is within their legal duty to serve their clients if they need legal advice.
“Even [former UP law] Dean Pacifico Agabin has confirmed the legality of OSGs action,” it also said.
The sedition case against Robredo and 35 other individuals was based on the allegations made by Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed “Bikoy” who served as narrator of the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video series.
Aside from Robredo, the PNP-CIDG named as respondents in its complaint members of the opposition “Otso-Diretso” senatorial slate – except former senator Mar Roxas, as well as church leaders and other personalities critical of the Duterte administration.
OSG, however, refused to give details about its participation in the drafting of the sedition complaint but stressed that the PNP-CIDG is its client while “Bikoy has his own private lawyer.”
Despite the involvement of the PNP-CIDG and OSG in the sedition case against the Vice President and other opposition members, the Palace has distanced itself from the complaint. /kga
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