House Speaker Martin Romualdez has welcomed Malacañang's appointment of University of the Philippines (UP) Law Dean Darlene Marie Berberabe as the country’s new Solicitor General.
In a statement past Thursday noon, May 29, Romualdez described Berberabe as "highly qualified to lead the government’s legal team amid complex constitutional issues and high-stakes cases that require sharp, independent counsel".
“Newly appointed Solicitor General Berberabe is stepping in at a critical moment, and I have no doubt she is ready. Her legal expertise, leadership, and integrity make her the right choice to serve as the Republic’s chief legal defender,” said Romualdez, a lawyer from UP and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), which is the oldest association of legal luminaries in the country.
“This is not a ceremonial post. We need a Solicitor General who can stand firm before the Supreme Court, argue persuasively, and safeguard the legal interests of the State,” the Speaker said, as he pointed to pending cases before the Supreme Court (SC).
“Dean Berberabe has the intellect, experience, and independence to do just that,” the House chief added.
Berberabe brings a diverse portfolio to the post: top graduate in both philosophy and law at the UP, and served as dean of the UP College of Law, where she championed access to legal education and ethical legal practice.
“Her professional record is not only impressive — it is defined by discipline, fairness and vision,” Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative, said.
“I am confident she will lead the OSG with the same rigor and patriotism that have marked every chapter of her career,” he underscored.
Berberabe replaced Menardo Guevarra in the ongoing executive branch-wide revamp of President Marcos.
Romualdez says the House stands firmly behind the new Solicitor General as she takes on her mandate to represent the Republic in court and defend the Constitution.