By Benjamin Pulta/PNA
MANILA — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on Thursday denied reports claiming that it refused to comply with the Supreme Court’s (SC) order to disclose documents in connection with the government’s war on drugs.
“From the time it was directed by the Supreme Court during oral arguments to submit the said documents, the OSG faithfully and promptly did so,” the OSG said in a statement.
The OSG noted that its submission of the required documents was duly noted by the SC in its resolutions dated June 15, 2018 and July 10, 2018.
“There is therefore no truth to the reports that the OSG defied the Supreme Court’s orders,” the OSG said, noting that “such reports are misleading”.
State lawyers, however, reiterated the national security implications of the High Court’s order.
“The OSG, however, made known its objection to furnishing the petitioners copies of certain documents because they contain sensitive information which involves national security. It could spell the success or failure of follow-up operations by police and other law enforcement bodies, aside from endangering the lives of suspects and accused persons already in lawful custody. Hence, the OSG’s reservation on furnishing the petitioners copies of the said documents is founded on solid legal framework and public interest concerns,” it said.
The OSG said it has furnished petitioners with copies of all documents they named in their respective petitions and that upon receipt of the SC resolution, it will abide by the Court’s directive.
