Solicitor General Cadiz quits, says De Lima

Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz. INQUIRER file photo

Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz has resigned, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Sunday night.

In a text message, De Lima said Cadiz “personally tendered his letter of resignation” to President Benigno Aquino III on Friday. “What I know is that he wants to go back to private practice,” De Lima said.

Another senior Malacañang source confirmed the news that Cadiz had quit the Cabinet but the official did not want to be identified for lack of authority to talk to the media.

Another senior government official said Cadiz would likely be replaced by lawyer Francis Jardeleza, the Deputy Ombusman for Luzon.

De Lima declined to give other details, saying she would rather wait for Malacañang’s official announcement.

“I was surprised. But I respect Joel’s decision to go back to private practice,” she said.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer sought Cadiz’s comment, but he did not answer calls and text messages to his mobile phone.

Mr. Aquino appointed Cadiz solicitor general on July 29, 2010.

A University of the Philippines law graduate and a former national president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cadiz was a noted labor lawyer before he joined the Aquino administration.