Aquino says new Solicitor General to focus on Banco Filipino case

President Benigno Aquino III MALACAÑANG PHOTO

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said he wanted the new, incoming solicitor general—whom a senior aide said would be Deputy Ombudsman Francis Jardeleza—to prioritize the government’s next move in connection with a Court of Appeals ruling on the Banco Filipino (BF) case.

Mr. Aquino said he was puzzled by the order  of the appellate court to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to infuse P25 billion into Banco Filipino.

“That infusion is not a joke, especially since the allegation is (the bank) was mismanaged—mismanaged very badly at that,” Mr. Aquino said.

Earlier Monday, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. told reporters that Jardeleza would replace resigned Solicitor General Jose Anselmo Cadiz and that Jardeleza would probably assume his new post on Friday after winding up his affairs at the Office of the Ombudsman.

All Mr. Aquino would say on the subject was that he would announce his choice on Cadiz’s successor “at the appropriate time.”

He said he wanted the new solicitor general to focus on pending cases and that “high on my list right now” was the appellate court’s ruling on the case of Banco Filipino, which has been placed under receivership.

Prior agreement

Speaking to reporters after attending the 110th founding anniversary of the Bureau of Customs, Mr. Aquino said Cadiz’s resignation was part of their agreement that the latter would go back to his law practice after helping him out in government.

He said Cadiz joined his administration in government  “for love of country,” but with the intention of serving for just two years.

“(Cadiz) has also plans for himself so that is the primary reason that he has tendered  his resignation. He has certain plans that I will leave it up to him to announce,” Mr. Aquino said. “He needs more time to attend to those things and I am grateful he gave us close to two years of service.”

Time to go

In a prepared statement, the President praised Cadiz for his “dedication and zeal” in his job.

“He can look back at his time in office as one in which the foundations for a reinvigorated Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) have been laid,” Mr. Aquino said.

He cited Cadiz’s success in affirming the dismissal of the Piatco claim against the government last year.

“I thank Attorney Cadiz for his loyalty and dedication, not just to the administration but for upholding the interests of the Filipino people,” Mr.  Aquino said.

Saying the time had come for him to leave the public stage, Cadiz  said he resigned because he wanted to go back to private practice and not because of controversial cases, like the agrarian reform row involving the Hacienda Luisita sugarcane plantation owned by the Aquino family.

Not an issue

Under Cadiz, the OSG had been consistent in supporting moves to distribute Hacienda Luisita lands to its farmers. Cadiz had been quick to point out that this showed that the President was not intervening to protect his family’s interests.

Some militants claim it was Cadiz’s support for the redistribution of Hacienda lands that cost him his job.

“(There is) no issue there,” Cadiz said. “From the start, I determined that I would be in government for a limited period only. Now is the time to go back to private practice.”

He also said the President had wanted the OSG to handle the Banco Filipino case but the BSP had its own lawyers.

“P-Noy (Aquino) wanted the OSG but BSP is independent,” Cadiz said.

Asked if he still supported the Aquino administration, Cadiz said: “Yes, wholeheartedly.”