Malacañang confirmed Friday the appointment of lawyer Alberto Agra as the government's new solicitor general.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Agra will replace Secretary Agnes Devanadera, who occupied the post as the government's lawyer in a concurrent capacity. Devanadera will retain her Cabinet position as acting Secretary of the Department of Justice.

Prior to his appointment, Agra served as head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) since 2007. He was also the president's lawyer during the impeachment proceeding in Congress in 2006.

"President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally confirmed having ade the appointment, when we had dinner last night so it's confirmed Atty. Al Agra has been appointed the new acting solicitor general," Remonde told reporters in the Palace.

Remonde said the president has yet to appoint Agra's replacement at the OGCC.

Meanwhile, Presidential Commismission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFACom) Executive Director Edilberto Adan is awaiting his formal appointment as adviser of Mrs. Arroyo’s commission that would ensure the dismantling of private armies in the country before May elections.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, Adan said he expects his appointment from the President “any time.”

He said the commission, which has started summoning police and military as part of its investigation, is set to meet again on Monday after their first meeting in Malacañang last January 7.

Adan said he is hopeful that the mandate of the commission, created under Administrative Order No. 275 which was signed on December 8, would continue even after May 10 polls.

President Arroyo has named retired Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Monina Arevalo Zenarosa as head of the independent commission that would ensure the dismantling of private armies in Maguindanao and other hotspots in the country before the May 10 elections.

The 70-year-old Zenarosa, along with the six commissioners, was sworn in by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on January 5 at the Executive Desk House.

Under the AO 275, the President directed the commission to prioritize and focus investigation of the existence of private armies in the country and be the government’s “sole voice” on such issue.

It also mandated to submit its action and policy recommendations to Mrs. Arroyo, including appropriate prosecution and legislative proposals aimed at eliminating the existence of private armies prior to the May 2010 elections.

The Chief Executive also granted investigative powers to the commission, which include the power to summon witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony or evidence relevant to the investigation and to issue compulsory processes to produce documents, books, records, and other pertinent matters related to its function.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered the creation of a commission to dismantle private armed groups especially those related to political clans a day before she declared martial law in Maguindanao on December 4, more than a week after the massacre of 57 people, including 30 journalists. (With report by Charissa M. Luci)