TO sports fans, she's known more as the former wife of the late 'Skywalker' Samboy Lim and doting mom to bemedalled karateka Jamie Lim.

To the Philippine government, she is its No. 1 legal counsel.

On Thursday, Malacanang announced the appointment of Darlene 'Lelen' Berberabe as the new Solicitor General, replacing Menardo Guevarra. Berberabe took her oath before President Bongbong Marcos on the same day.

PHOTO: Presidential Communications Office

The Office of the Solicitor General is the first government appointment of Berberabe, who previously served as chief executive officer of the Pag-IBIG fund under the administration of the late president Noynoy Aquino.

Prior to her appointment, Berberabe, who graduated salutatorian of her UP Law class in 1999, was the dean of the UP College of Law and was among the applicants for Supreme Court justice vetted by the Judicial and Bar Council.

The OSG appointment takes her out of contention for the Supreme Court position.

But most sports fans know Berberabe as the former wife who took care of Samboy Lim from the time the former PBA star suffered a stroke while playing in a legends game in November 2014 until his death on December 23, 2023.

Samboy and Lelen's only child, Jamie, is a longtime member of the national karate team who has two Southeast Asian Games kumite gold medals to her name, the last won in Cambodia in 2023.

Jamie also graduated summa cum laude with a degree in BS Mathematics from UP in 2021.

In August 24, Jamie renewed the family's links with her late dad's former team when she served as the muse of San Miguel during the opening of the PBA's 49th season.

PHOTO: Sherwin Vardeleon

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