DOJ chief meets with SolGen transition team

FILE: SENATE HEARING. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra says he is set to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against nearly 2,000 heinous crimes convicts who were freed early due to the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law. Guevarra was one of the resource persons during the continuation of the Senate inquiry on the controversial implementation of the GCTA law on Thursday (Sept. 5, 2019). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday bared his meeting with the transition team from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), his next assignment after being designated by President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said he met with OSG officials Wednesday where he was briefed on key cases handled by the OSG under outgoing chief, Jose Calida.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), the OSG transition team gave me an overview of the organization and operations of the office. They also gave me an idea about the handling of special cases of national importance,” he said.

The SolGen generally handles cases representing the state’s interest in appealed cases.

Guevarra likewise said discussed during the meeting was improving the working condition of the OSG including the status of disrepair of its building in Amorsolo, Makati.

“(L)astly, we discussed matters that need immediate attention, such as the structural problems of the OSG building, the need to create additional legal divisions, and amendments to the OSG law to include retirement and survivorship benefits for state solicitors like those enjoyed by their judicial counterparts,” he said.

Guevarra will be replaced in the DOJ in the incoming administration by Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.

Guevarra said he is happy with having been appointed SolGen as it entails actual litigation, unlike the Justice secretary position he held which he entailed mostly administrative work.

Guevarra had replaced secretary Vitaliano Aguirre in the DOJ in 2018.