The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will start deputizing its lawyers as counsels in litigations involving just compensation for agricultural lands placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) coverage.
Atty. Napoleon Galit, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Office, directed all designated DAR lawyers to observe proper protocol by entering an appearance in their respective areas of assignment when representing the DAR as counsel on matters involving just compensation.
Galit issued the order after receiving a favorable response from Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra about his request “to exercise authority and full and direct control” over all lawyers of the DAR in the handling of just compensation cases before regional trial courts sitting as Special Agrarian Courts.
“The subject representation by the DAR Legal personnel is within the prerogative of the Honorable Secretary of the Department,” Galit quoted Guevarra as saying in the latter’s reply letter.
Guevarra stressed that the “functions subject of the good undersecretary’s request does not fall within the coverage of an OSG (Office of the Solicitor General) deputation.”
Guevarra added: “The appointment of the good undersecretary as head of the legal sector of the DAR is exclusively within the powers of the Department Secretary, and is, therefore, external to the OSG’s mandate.”
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