Office of the Solicitor General(OSG)

May I request an updated report on total costs for the Philippines-China arbitration, with details as to lawyers' fees, court fees, fees of the five-man arbiration panel, plane fare and accommodations for Philippine officials and their observers ot the hearings at the Haguie.

Sir,

Thank you for your request. Your request will be forwarded to the Solicitor General, through the Secretariat, for processing.

Thank you.

July 8, 2021

Dear Rigoberto Tiglao,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Jul 02, 2021 03:51:59 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your request

You asked for Report on C osts in PH-China Arbitration.

Response to your request

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance this Office cannot provide the information/documents requested or the updated report on the total costs relative to the Philippines-China Arbitration because of the confidential nature of the information/documents.

The information/documents requested are included in the Exceptions to Right of Access to Information under the INVENTORY OF EXCEPTIONS TO EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2 (S. 2016), dated November 24, 2016, link: https://www.foi.gov.ph/downloads/inventory-of-exceptions-to-eo-2.pdf, which provides,: 

7. Records of proceedings or information from proceedings which, pursuant to law or relevant rules and regulations, are treated as confidential or privileged, including but not limited to the following:

a.	Mediation and domestic or international arbitration proceedings, including records, evidence and the arbitral awards, pursuant to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 2004;
XXX

9. Other exceptions to the right to information under laws, jurisprudence, rules and regulations, such as:
XXX
	g. Attorney-client privilege existing between government lawyers and their client.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legazpi Village, Makati City. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,
https://www.foi.gov.ph/help
FOI Officer