OSG defends decision to drop Comelec in voting threshold case

THE OFFICE of the Solicitor General (OSG) has defended its decision to not represent the Commission on Elections (Comelec) before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) in Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo’s motion to uphold a 25% voting threshold in her ongoing election recount against losing candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida, in a manifestation submitted on Friday, dropped the Comelec as its client and urged the PET to uphold its earlier April 10 resolution to impose a 50% threshold. Responding to criticism of the agency’s decision, the OSG said in a statement released on Tuesday that “it is the Solicitor-General’s duty to present to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal the position he perceives to be in the best interest of the Republic.” —