The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), in its commitment to provide quality legal service, has intensified efforts in hiring top notch lawyers and recent law graduates through its aggressive and dedicated Selection Board. Last January 21, 2013, the OSG appointed four (4) Legal Officers who all took their oath before Solicitor General Francis H. Jardeleza and their respective Divisions’ Assistant Solicitors General, namely: ASG Roman del Rosario, ASG Rex Bernardo Pascual, and ASG Sarah Fernandez.

The newly-appointed Legal Officers are: (1) Pauline Alejandre, a recipient of the Dean’s Medalist for Academic Excellence, who graduated 17^th in her class at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law; (2) Johvie Valenton, who also graduated from the UP College of Law and served as a legal intern for the OSG while being part of various research endeavors; (3) Jhoan Andrei Inciong, likewise a graduate of the UP College of Law and a former intern at the UP Law Center-Institute for International Legal Studies; and (4) Angeli Albaña, who finished 9^th in her class at the University of Santo Tomas and had various work experiences in large, well-known private companies.

With the recent hiring of these young, bright minds, the OSG remains steadfast in its search for more highly qualified and competent people from top law schools in the country. This, the OSG believes, would result in providing only the best representation for the People and the Republic.

By: Julie M. Aurelio, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 12/16/12

The government, through the office of the Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling barring the live broadcast of the Maguindanao massacre trial.

In a motion for reconsideration, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza said live radio and television coverage of the trial would not be prejudicial to the constitutional rights of the accused.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, who is hearing the multiple murder case, was furnished a copy of the pleading.

In an en banc resolution on Oct. 23, the Supreme Court partially granted accused Andal Ampatuan Jr.’s motion for reconsideration of its June 14, 2011, ruling.

The Oct. 23 en banc resolution modified portions of the guidelines for media coverage issued on June 14, 2011, which initially allowed live media coverage of the Maguindanao massacre based on a set of guidelines.

by: Cynthia D. Balana 08/29/12 Philippine Daily Inquirer

State lawyers have asked the Sandiganbayan to order the Philippine Veterans Bank to produce records of Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos’ deposits that it earlier garnished after the amount dwindled from P36.55 million to a little over P1 million in just two months.

In a 12-page comment filed with the special court’s Fifth Division, the Presidential Commission on Good Government and the Office of the Solicitor General reminded PVB of its assurance that the account had enough funds to satisfy the judgment cost against the former first lady.