Palace: Benipayo resignation effective April 1

Malacañang officials on Wednesday announced that President Arroyo has accepted the irrevocable resignation of Solicitor General Alfredo Benipayo. Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor confirmed reports that Benipayo’s resignation will take effect on April 1. He maintained that Benipayo’s decision to leave the government has nothing to do with the latter’s performance during the oral arguments in the Supreme Court last week. During the hearing, Benipayo told SC justices that the warrantless arrests and the raid of the Daily Tribune offices has no legal basis. Lawyer groups earlier warned that the President’s decision to sign Proclamation 1017, which placed the country under a state of national emergency, might be used as legal basis for another impeachment complaint in July. Defensor said the outgoing solicitor general wanted to return to his private practice. Benipayo has yet to issue statement on his resignation as of posting time. Benipayo’s resignation, Defensor said, would have no effect on the government cases being handled by the Office of the Solicitor General. Defensor said the position of solicitor general is only institutional while its duties and responsibilities can easily be transferred to the person who will be appointed. Among the names Defensor floated to replace Benipayo are Agnes Devanadera, former interior and local government undersecretary, and Chief Presidential Legal Adviser Eduardo Antonio Nachura. Nachura penned Proclamation 1017 in behalf of the President. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is also reportedly eyed to succeed Benipayo, according to a GMA News report. Gonzalez earlier said Benipayo "failed miserably" in defending the state of national emergency declaration during oral arguments in the high tribunal. Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban noted some conflicts in Benipayo’s offered reasons behind the weeklong emergency rule.-GMANews.TV