Ex-SolGen Chavez files libel raps vs ‘The Firm’

The "word war" between former Solicitor General Francisco 'Frank' Chavez and senior partners of the CVC Law Offices took a different turn Monday when the former filed libel charges against the latter. In his complaint, Chavez alleged that Alejandro Alfonso Navarro, F. Arthur Villaraza, Avelino Cruz Jr., Simeon Marcelo, Raoul Angangco tarnished his “unsullied reputation as a legal advocate" when they said in a newspaper report that he did not win a single case during his stint as chief state counsel of the late President Corazon “Cory" Aquino. The five are members of the CVC Law Offices, or more popularly known as “The Firm," which used to be closely associated with the Arroyo administration but is now, Chavez alleged, positioning themselves for plum posts in the upcoming administration. Also named respondents in the complaint were Pergentino Bandayrel and Daxim Lucas, nation editor and senior business writer, respectively, of the Philippine Daily Inquirer where the allegedly libelous news story came out last May 21. "Said article made it appear that I was incompetent not only as a Solicitor General, but as a lawyer as well. Said article besmirched my reputation which I have carefully protected in my 38 years of law practice," Chavez said in his complaint filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The story quoted Navarro as saying that Chavez’s record as a solicitor general was “unblemished by victory." He also reportedly said that Chavez’s tirades against The Firm smack of professional jealousy. "Attention-seeker" The Firm, on the other hand, dismissed the complaint and branded Chavez as an attention-seeker. “If Chavez has the nation’s interest at heart, then he shouldn’t be drawing up a storm with himself in the center of attention on a matter which is of no public concern concern – (private interests, perhaps?)," said lawyer Sylvette Tankiang, one of the senior partners of The Firm, in a text message to reporters. Tankiang said none of the partners of the The Firm is gunning for public appointments under the administration of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III, who is likely to win the presidency based on unofficial tally by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). “There is surely no need to drag the Firm in a fight for whatever it is that motivate Chavez to spend so much time in media engagements sounding off his proverbial horn denouncing the Firm… No one from the Firm is inclined to gun for public appointments. Frank, you can have it all, assuming you get past first base," Tangkiang said. Tankiang was reacting to Chavez’s accusation that two CVC partners — Cruz and Marcelo — are angling for positions under the Aquino administration. Chavez, in different media interviews, said Cruz wants to be either Justice chief or executive secretary, while Marcelo is eyeing a position in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). Both Cruz and Marcelo served under the Arroyo administration — Defense secretary and Ombudsman, respectively — but both quit for various reasons. Track record To deny that he has a track record that is “unblemished by victory," Chavez said he won 74 out of 81 government or presidential policy cases before the Supreme Court during Mrs. Aquino's administration. He also said he immediately sent a letter to Navarro wherein he cited Supreme Court records belying his claim that he never won a case during his term as solicitor general. “Now that you have been apprised of my court victories as Solgen, I hasten to assure you that my law practice this past 38 years has been unblemished by corruption, influence peddling, illegal transactions, chamber practice, envelopmental procedure and transactional litigation," he said. Chavez said he continued to win several other landmark cases even after his stint as solicitor general. Due to the publication of said article, Chavez added that some of his friends and colleagues in the legal circle called him up to check on the veracity of Navarro’s statement. “At the very least, the subject article created a suspicion, notion or impression that I, indeed, did not win any case while I was still a solicitor general," he said. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV