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By Dona T"Pazzibugan
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The Departrnent of |ustice (DOI)
has been asked to bar the Office
of the Solicitor General (OSG)
from participating in the inves-
tigation of the sedition colr:
plaint filed against Vice Presi-
dent Leni Robredo and 3z oppo-
sidon leaders, clergy members,
{awyers and private indMduals.
' Four respondents, namely,
Free Legal Assistance Group
(FIAG) lawyers Chel Diokno,
Erin Taflada and Teodoro Te,
and former Magdalo Rep. Gary
Alejano said the OSG should be
disqualified from acting as"coun-
:sel for the Philippine Natioryl
:.Police Criminal Investigation
: and Oetection Group (CIDG).
' The PNP-CIDG filed the
; sedition complaint based solely
\ %ee -A5,/
on the claims of flip-flopping
convicted con man Peter Joemel
Advincula, who used the ali'as
"Bikoy" in online videos that ac-
cused President Duterte's fami-
ly of illegal tirug connections.
The DOf, through a three-
member panel of prosecutcirs,
is condbcting a preliminary in-
vestigation into the complaint.
In two separate motions
filed onAuB.14, the three FLAG
lawyers and the former par-ty
list representative argued that
the OSG's primary mandate is
to represent the government in
the Supreme Court and the
Court of Appeals.
Diokno, Taflada and Te cit-
ed a r99o Supreme Court deci-
sion that said the OSG can par-
ticipate in a criminal case only
when this has reached the ap-
pellate courts. INQ.