Darlene Berberabe replaces Menardo Guevarra as Solicitor General

Former Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Darlene Marie Berberabe is the new solicitor general.

Berberabe, currently the dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, succeeded Menardo Guevarra. She took her oath before President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday.

Aside from Berberabe, Engr. Jose Ramon Aliling took his oath as the new Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). 

Aliling replaced Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who has been designated as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development.

Berberabe was among those recently interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the position of Supreme Court (SC) associate justice. The SC said the interviews were being conducted in view of the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Mario Lopez on June 4, 2025.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said he was happy for Berberabe, whom he described as a top-caliber lawyer with an impressive management background.

Guevarra, for his part, said he would return to private life.

"As for me, maybe it's time to go back to a quiet and peaceful private life," Guevarra said.

ICC

In March, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a manifestation before the Supreme Court seeking to recuse itself from the consolidated habeas corpus petitions filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte's children, who are seeking his release and return from The Hague, Netherlands.

In its nine-page motion, the OSG stated it "may not be able to effectively represent respondents in these cases" due to its firm stance that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

Following the development, Malacañang called on Guevarra to assess himself if he was still capable to serve as the Solicitor General. At the time, Guevarra said he would leave the matter to the President.

At a press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said he believed the ICC issue was not a factor in Marcos' decision to accept Guevarra's resignation.

''I don’t think that that was a factor at all because if you recall, there was a strong clamor for the termination or removal of Solicitor General Guevarra at that time,'' Bersamin said.

''The public perception that gave rise to this clamor must have been about his taking the opposite side of the issue. But, you know, he and the President had a conversation about this, and the President respected his ethical decision to recuse,'' he added. 

''Now, if there was a reservation about his professionalism at that time, the President could have already removed him. But the President continued to repose trust in him. So, up to the decision to accept his resignation, Solicitor General Guevarra was still there.''

Bersamin said ''maybe it is time'' for Guevarra ''to go to another venture.''

''And so, the President accepted his resignation to allow for fresh blood to come in,'' the Palace official said.

In a separate statement, Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez said Berberabe is “highly qualified to lead the government’s legal team amid complex constitutional issues and high-stakes cases that require sharp, independent counsel.”

“This is not a ceremonial post. We need a Solicitor General who can stand firm before the Supreme Court, argue persuasively, and safeguard the legal interests of the state. Dean Berberabe has the intellect, experience, and independence to do just that,” Romualdez, a product of the UP College of Law like Berberabe, said.

Berberabe finished her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in UP, where she graduated summa cum laude and class valedictorian. Aside from her master's degree in philosophy, Berberabe also completed her Bachelor of Law in UP as salutatorian of her class.

After working at a private law firm, Berberabe served as senior counsel and member of the Leadership Team of Procter & Gamble Philippines.

She was appointed to the helm of state firm Pag-IBIG Fund in 2010 during the presidency of the late Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.

Berberabe was recognized as an Outstanding CEO in Asia by the ADFIAP, Outstanding CEO in the public sector by Asia CEO, one of the Ten Outstanding Women in Nation Service in 2013, and one of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in 2014. — with a report from Llanesca Panti/VDV/VBL, GMA Integrated News