MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has a new roster of solicitors ready to serve as government counsels, one of whom is 2013 bar topnotcher Nielson Pangan.
The new roster of young solicitors was presented after the appointment of new Solicitor General Florin Hilbay last month replacing outgoing Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza who was recently appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Pangan was among the bar topnotchers recruited by Jardeleza who was a 1974 bar top-notcher himself. The new Solicitor General who replaces Jardeleza, Atty. Hilbay, also graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 1999 and was the 1st placer in the 1999 Bar Examinations. Pangan came from the UP College of Law Batch 2013.
Aside from Pangan, also named as Associate Solicitors were some of the examinees who made it to the top 10 in last year’s bar exams, as well as bar places in the previous years.
The new solicitors are:
Associate Solicitor Denise Dy-Flores, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2008, 7th placer 2008 Bar Examinations;
Associate Solicitor Luz Danielle O. Bolong, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2011, 2nd placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Christian Louie C. Gonzales, University of Santo Tomas College of Law Batch 2011, 5th placer 2011 Bar Examinations;
Associate Solicitor Ivan M. Bandal, Siliman University Batch 2011, 6th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Irene Marie P. Qua, Ateneo de Manila University School of Law Batch 2011, 8th placer 2011 Bar Examinations; Associate Solicitor Ma. Graciela D. Base, University of the Philippines College of Law Batch 2012, 5th placer 2012 Bar Examinations;
Associate Solicitor Rudy V. Ortea, University of Batangas Batch 2013, 3rd placer 2013 Bar Examinations, Associate Solicitor Tercel Maria Mercado-Gephart, University of San Carlos, 5th placer 2013 Bar Examinations; and Associate Solicitor Manuel Elijah S. Sarausad, University of Cebu Batch 2013, 6th placer 2013 Bar Examinations.
The Office of the Solicitor General is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice.
The Solicitor General is the principal law officer and legal defender of the Government.
The OSG represents the government, its agencies and instrumentalities, and its officials and agents in any litigation, proceeding, or investigation on matters requiring the services of lawyers.
