Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra should assess himself if he remains suitable to be the government's chief lawyer, a Palace official said.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement following the move of the Solicitor General to inhibit from defending the government's position on the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
"[S]iguro po mas maganda po kung mismo si SolGen ang mag-assess sa sarili niya kung siya pa po ba ay nararapat na tumayo bilang Solicitor General (I think it is better if the SolGen would assess himself if he is still fit to be the Solicitor General)," Castro said this on Tuesday, March 18, when asked if there is a possibility to replace Guevarra after distancing himself from the Duterte case.
Although there is no word from the Palace on its next move after Guevarra's refusal, Castro said it is "very important" to have a lawyer that would effectively defend the government in its causes.
"It's very important. It's very significant to get another lawyer who is very competent and very effective in defending the causes of the government," Castro said, stressing that Guevarra stated that he cannot effectively represent the government.
"Well, as I've told a while ago, he should assess himself," she reiterated.
The Palace Press Officer also lamented how Guevarra's manifestation had been used by other parties in backing their claims that Duterte's arrest was unlawful.
So, she pointed out that the Solicitor General never implied that the government's move to cooperate with the Interpol was not right, aside from citing that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.
"Binanggit lamang po niya na siya po ay naniniwala na walang hurisdiksiyon ang ICC sa Pilipinas, iyan din naman po ang tinuran noon pa ng Pangulo. Pero hindi po niya nabanggit kailanman sa kaniyang manifestation na mali ang pakikipagtulungan ng gobyerno sa Interpol (He only mentioned that he believes the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, and that is also the President's belief. But he did not mention ever in his manifestation that it was not right for the government to cooperate with the Interpol)," Castro said.
Castro also said that there is still no discussion yet on who would represent government agencies on the Duterte's arrest case. But, she said, the government will be compelled to provide assistance to the government officials, led by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, especially "if it talks about official duty."
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) executive further said that the recusal of Guevarra cannot be used against the government, because there was nothing wrong with the argument of the Solicitor General that the ICC has no power over the country.
"Of course, he will make that statement favorable to their case or to their position. When in fact, it is very clear from the statement of SolGen Guevarra that he is only discussing about the jurisdiction of the ICC and that it is also the pronouncement of the President that the ICC has no more jurisdiction over the Philippines, so there's nothing wrong with that," Castro referring to former presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.
"But never did he, never did SolGen, mention that he is against the cooperation of the government with the Interpol. So, how could it be used against the government," Castro added.