AG Manibusan files candidacy

Attorney General Edward Manibusan chats with executive director Kayla Igitol of the Commonwealth Election Commission yesterday morning, soon after submitting his letter of intent to seek retention in the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. (KIMBERLY ESMORES)

Attorney General Edward Manibusan submitted yesterday his letter of intent to seek retention in the upcoming Nov. 8 general election.

Manibusan handed in his letter of intent to Commonwealth Election Commission executive director Kayla Igitol inside the CEC office in Susupe at around 10:45am.

Manibusan, who is running as non-partisan, said he seeks retention because there are still so many things that he needs to do as attorney general and he aims to continue the work that has been entrusted to him by the people.

“As I formally submit my petition to seek re-election as attorney general, I remind myself of the constitutional duties entrusted to the office by the people of the Commonwealth. The past four years have been challenging due to several typhoons and the pandemic and resulting turnover in personnel. Notwithstanding the challenges, the Office of the Attorney General provided substantial legal advice and services to the Executive Branch and the autonomous agencies as well as provided comments to the Legislature on legislation that would have affected the lives of our citizens,” Manibusan stated.

If re-elected, Manibusan said he will continue to perform the constitutional duties of the attorney general and the work he has started on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth as its chief legal officer.

“I will ensure that the Office of the Attorney General lives up to its commitment to the rule of law, continue to ensure its independence and continue to deliver legal services and advice to our government and to the people of the Commonwealth. I would like to thank the people of the Commonwealth for giving me the honor and privilege to serve in this important and honorable position,” he said.

Manibusan noted that overall, the OAG’s Civil and Criminal Division secured favorable decisions in both the Superior and Supreme courts and negotiated settlements in cases on terms favorable to the Commonwealth.

“The OAG’s Criminal Division worked diligently to protect our citizens from unlawful activities by prosecuting those who violated our criminal laws. This division and the Victim Advocate Office worked on many different projects, coordinated and made regular contacts with law enforcement and investigators, and generally worked with victims of crimes, including work to improve relationship with other agencies and the community,” he said.

In addition, Manibusan said in his tenure, the Office of the Attorney General also worked at the national level, even participating in the multistate opioid litigation, partnering with numerous other attorneys general across the United States to negotiate a settlement with pharmaceutical companies involved in the distribution of OxyContin and other opioid derivative drugs.

The OAG office also submitted two amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, he noted.

“My office led the amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Guam Ordot Dump case, which resulted in Guam’s favor. We also participated in the amicus brief in a Section 1983 claim in Vega v. Tokeh involving a failure to mirandize a defendant,” he said.

Currently, Manibusan is running unopposed for the position of attorney general.