Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed on Wednesday that Solicitor-General Menardo Guevarra did not have his permission to withdraw from representing the government in a consolidated lawsuit involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This move has raised questions about the government’s strategy in handling the case.
According to Remulla, Guevarra’s recusal on Monday was not authorized, sparking concerns about the potential implications of this development. The lawsuit in question is a consolidated case related to Duterte’s administration.
In a related development, Guevarra clarified that the Philippine government’s filing with the International Criminal Court (ICC) stands, and they are awaiting a final ruling.
This comes amid ongoing debates about the Philippines’ cooperation with the ICC probe into the country’s war on drugs during Duterte’s administration.
The Solicitor General’s office has maintained that the Philippine government is not legally bound by a 2021 Supreme Court ruli to cooperate with the ICC probe.
