By Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA
MANILA — The congressional bicameral conference committee on Monday approved the reconciled version of a measure further strengthening the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
The bicameral panel was able to reconcile the contrasting provisions of Senate Bill 1823 and House Bill 7376.
Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate justice panel, said the reconciled version does not provide for the abolition of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).
The House version proposes the abolition of the OGCC and the PCGG, and that their respective powers shall be transferred to the OSG.
“We did not approve the dissolution of PCGG and OGCC, so they will remain. And, we made provisions on the powers and benefits of OSG,” he said.
The bill seeks to expand the OSG’s powers by allowing it to hire more lawyers in its ranks to boost the office’s efforts as the government’s principal law office and legal defender.
It also mandates “competitive” retirement perks and other benefits for OSG members to help recruit new lawyers and make them stay in the agency.
