(Eagle News)–The Office of the Solicitor General on Wednesday, July 24, said it was its “legal duty to serve its clients when they seek legal advice.”
The OSG issued the statement following accusations there was oppression of the opposition since the OSG helped prepare Peter Joemel Advincula’s complaint-affidavit against Vice President Leni Robredo and others over the Ang Totoong Narcolist videos.
Larry Gadon, Advincula’s lawyer, said their camp “only probably” consulted the OSG after the complaint-affidavit for sedition, among other charges, was prepared.
Although Advincula’s affidavit was the basis for the complaint, acting as complainant for the case, of which Advincula was also a respondent, was the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
“By law..the OSG is the principal lawyer of the Republic of the Philippines, and all its agencies and departments, which includes, among others, the PNP-CIDG,” the OSG said.
According to the OSG, the PNP-CIDG is their client, and not Advincula, who has his “own private lawyer.”
It said Pacifico Agabin himself, who hurled the accusations, has “confirmed the legality of OSG’s action.”
“It is also the duty of the OSG to abide by the client-lawyer confidentiality imposed by law,” he said.
“Hence, as lawyers, we cannot divulge details or information about the specifics of this case,” he added.
