MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on Friday continued to insist it has authority to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the filing of raps against Vice President Leni Robredo and other opposition members in connection to “Bikoy” narco-list videos.
“The OSG is firm with its earlier position that as statutory counsel of the Government and all its agencies and instrumentalities, the OSG is well-within the bounds of law in rendering legal services sought the PNP, its client agency,” the OSG said in a statement.
The OSG also denounced what it said were “self-serving” statements made by former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay who claimed that assisting clients in initiating complaints is beyond the scope of the OSG’s authority.
Hilbay earlier said the OSG should not have drafted the sworn statement of Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be the hooded figure “Bikoy” in the series of videos dubbed as “Ang Totoong Narcolist.”
The PNP-CIDG used Bikoy’s affidavit as a basis in the filing of sedition, cyber libel, estafa, harboring of a criminal, and obstruction of justice against Robredo and other opposition members, including Hilbay. They were accused of orchestrating the videos as part of an alleged ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.
The OSG said that having been the previous solicitor general from 2014 to 2016, Hilbay should know that the Solicitor General is bound to serve its clients in any action or matter.
“While he may have been Solicitor General only for 22 months, 12 of which was in an acting capacity, he should know that the OSG is bound to serve its clients in any matter, action or proceeding which, in his opinion, affects the welfare of the people as the ends of justice may require,” the statement read.
The agency also stressed that the legal services rendered to the PNP are not only limited to providing opinions or representation before the courts.
“Hilbay ought to know that prior to the filing of a complaint with the DOJ (Department of Justice), the PNP, as a law enforcement agency, is mandated to gather all the necessary evidence to build up a case. The legal services rendered by the OSG to the PNP are not limited to rendering opinions or representing it before the courts but also in all and every aspect where legal know-how is needed in order to fulfill the duties of the PNP,” it said.
It also defended the PNP-CIDG’s decision to use Advincula as a witness in the case.
“With respect to his allegation that Bikoy is disqualified to be a state witness, Hilbay has no authority nor credibility to make such a conclusion. This matter should be raised and best threshed out during trial,” the OSG said.
The OSG further stated that it would be better for Hilbay to raise his arguments during the preliminary investigation on the case.
“He being one of the respondents in the sedition charges, can be best articulated before the preliminary investigation in his crime against public order,” it said.
READ: DOJ summons Robredo, 35 others over sedition raps
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday subpoenas have been sent out to respondents for the preliminary investigation of the case on August 9.
DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra has assured the public of “utmost fairness” in the resolution to the complaint.
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