GMA names chief legal counsel as new solicitor general

President Arroyo has prevailed upon her chief legal counsel, Antonio Eduardo Nachura, to accept her appointment of him as the new solicitor general despite his reservations about accepting the job.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said yesterday that Nachura, 64, would begin his new job between March 23 and April 1 to ensure a smooth transition as he takes over from Alfredo Benipayo, who tendered his resignation last Tuesday.

In an interview, Nachura said the President talked to him Thursday and formally offered him the position.

Sources had said earlier Nachura was not interested in the job because he preferred to become a Supreme Court (SC) justice. He is one of the nominees, along with Benipayo, on a short list created by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) recommending SC justices for Mrs. Arroyo’s approval.

"It is quite a difficult job. I told the President that maybe she should also widen her list of choices. There may be other people who are better qualified," Nachura told The STAR.

But he said the President told him that the "trouble is, my other Cabinet members are recommending you."

Nachura named Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez as one of those who had been very vocal in his preference for him to become the new solicitor general.

According to Bunye, Government Corporate Counsel Agnes Devanadera was among those being considered to replace Nachura.

"With this announcement, I’d like to meet with Benipayo to get whatever insights he can share before I assume office. I also have to wind up my affairs as chief legal counsel," Nachura said.

Nachura was named chief presidential legal counsel on Feb. 6, just over a month ago. He said he had not yet prepared his office but would abide by the President’s wishes.

Benipayo had said he wanted to return to the private sector, but reports indicated he was under pressure to resign because Malacañang was not satisfied with his performance.

Bunye said Nachura would remain on the list of JBC nominees for SC justice despite his appointment as solicitor general.

Nachura took over as chief legal counsel from Merceditas Gutierrez, who now sits as the Ombudsman.

The Office of the Solicitor General represents the government in the legal battle over the ownership of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) and is also in charge of the government defense against petitions questioning the constitutionality of Proclamation 1017, through which the President declared a state of emergency on Feb. 24.

Nachura said he would no longer need to defend the emergency declaration since the SC had already heard oral arguments.

Several groups protested the legality of the proclamation as well as its implementation, particularly the warrantless arrests and a midnight raid on an opposition newspaper.

Rallies were also banned during the state of emergency and protesters were rounded up for not voluntarily dispersing.

As a congressman, Nachura was a member of the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel during the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Estrada in 2000.

He also served at the former Department of Education, Culture and Sports as undersecretary for legal affairs and legislative liaison from 1994 to 1998 and as commissioner of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board from 1993 to 1994.

Nachura served as chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments.

He placed first in the Bar as an alumnus of San Beda College of Law, where he graduated with honors. He became a law professor at his alma mater and at seven other colleges and universities. He became the dean of the Arellano University’s law school from 1992 to 1994. — With AP