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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC asked to allow OSG's reentry of appearance as counsel in habeas corpus petition of ex-Pres Duterte, Sen Dela Rosa

SC asked to allow OSG's reentry of appearance as counsel in habeas corpus petition of ex-Pres Duterte, Sen Dela Rosa

Published Dec 2, 2025 03:18 pm
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the country’s law firm, asked the Supreme Court (SC) to allow its reentry as counsel of the government in the petition that challenged the arrest and turnover to the International Criminal Court (ICC) of then president Rodrigo Duterte last March 11.
The OSG’s manifestation with entry of appearance was filed before the SC last Dec. 1 by Solicitor General Darlene Marie B. Berberabe.
On top of granting the OSG’s plea for reentry as counsel, Solicitor General Berberabe asked the High Court to deny the petition’s reiterative plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining order.
The petition was filed by Duterte, himself, and Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa and docketed as GR No. 278747.
Last March 12, the SC denied the plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Duterte and Dela Rosa. It directed the respondents in the petition to file their comment.
However, last March 24, then solicitor general Menardo I. Guevarra recused or inhibited the OSG from participating in the petition.
Guevarra told the SC that the Philippines has no legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC nor recognize any process emanating from the ICC following the effectivity of the country's withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019.
On March 28, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed its comment as required by the SC.
Later last April 2, the SC granted the motion of the OSG to inhibit from the case.
On Nov. 20, 2025, the DOJ received a copy of the SC’s resolution requiring the respondents to comment on petitioners’ urgent motion for the issuance of a TRO.
Thus, last Nov. 25, the DOJ referred the petitioners’ urgent motion to the OSG for appropriate action.
The petition – together with those filed by Duterte’s children --remained pending at the SC until the High Court directed all the parties to the cases – petitioners and respondents – to file their memorandum and to inform the court of the development in the ICC.
Then came the manifestation with reentry of appearance filed by Solicitor General Berberabe.
Berberabe told the SC: “After due consideration, the OSG hereby enters its appearance anew as counsel for all the respondents in the above caption case (the petition filed by Duterte and Dela Rosa) and requests that it be furnished with copies of all court issuances and submissions at its official address….”
Named respondents in the petitions were then executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, Local Government Secretary Juan Victor Remulla, then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbin, then PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CID) Director Gen. Nicolas Torre III, then solicitor general Guevarra, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr., Executive Director of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) Undersecretary Lt. Gen. Antonio Alcantara, Capt. Johnny Gulla and the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
It was not known immediately if the manifestation will be tackled by the SC during its full court session on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
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