/PNA
MANILA — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday hailed the decision of Congress’ bicameral conference committee to set aside proposals to abolish the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), and transfer their functions to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
“The DOJ (Department of Justice) has always taken the position that the OGCC and the PCGG serve unique purposes and, for that reason, should continue to exist,” Guevarra said in a statement.
“The OGCC lauds the decision of the bicameral conference committee and the recognition that the OGCC is separate and distinct from the OSG,” Chief Government Counsel Elpidio Vega said.
“The OGCC has, through the years since its creation, specialized its legal services to protect the government owned and controlled corporations, dutifully safeguarding their legal interests. It has diligently provided the legal services necessary in order that GOCCs’ mandates shall be achieved for the good of the country,” Vega added, as he urged lawmakers to come up with a more robust charter for the OGCC.
At present, the OGCC handles the legal requirements of more than 130 government-owned and- controlled corporations (GOCCs) and almost 500 local water districts.
The bicameral conference committee has agreed on the final version of the proposed law strengthening the OSG in a meeting last January 21.
The DOJ earlier filed its formal objection to a proposed legislation in the House of Representatives that seeks to abolish the OGCC and the PCGG, and transfer their respective functions under the OSG, warning that consolidating both agencies could result in conflict of interest in numerous cases.
