As the House of Representatives’ Justice Committee convened to deliberate on proposed measures on Tuesday, a Harvard-trained lawyer and neophyte lawmaker stressed the need to quickly act on two bills that “would ensure that marginalized sectors have access to justice in the country.”
Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles is pushing for the immediate passage of a measure that would expand the Public Attorney’s Office, as well as a bill that would establish legal aid programs in both private and public law schools in the country.
“Modernizing the PAO would help us in our shared aspiration of easier access to justice.”
Under House Bill No. 4281 or the “Public Attorney’s Office Modernization Act of 2019,” the PAO’s mandate would be broadened to include free legal assistance to complainants or petitioners.
Currently, the PAO’s mandate only covers extending legal assistance to indigents charged in criminal, civil, labor, administrative, and quasi-judicial cases.
The bill also stipulates the allocation of a legal defense and representation fund in all government offices, including the armed forces, to help officials and employees who have cases filed against them in the discharge of their duties.
The measure also proposes that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conduct a legal needs study for greater understanding of the people’s basic access to justice needs.
The measure would also raise the retirement benefits of PAO personnel to be equivalent to that of the National Prosecution Service under the Prosecution Service Act of 2010, including its future amendments.
“The creation of a comprehensive legal aid program gives meaning to the concept of “providing the marginalized access to justice.”
“It is our hope that modernizing the PAO would help us in our shared aspiration of easier access to, and the swifter dispensation of, justice especially for the poor,” the solon said.
Meanwhile, House Bill No. 2993 or the “Legal Aid Program Act of 2019” is aimed to augment the services rendered by the PAO and other public offices that offer free legal assistance, which Nograles claimed are already overwhelmed with a large number of cases.
The lawmaker noted that the PAO currently has just over 2,000 lawyers, who each handles 5,794 clients and 458 cases per year, and a mandatory legal aid clinic would help cater to the needs of those who cannot otherwise afford legal services.
“This representation believes that the creation of a comprehensive legal aid program and rationalizing the standards for the underprivileged and underserved ultimately gives meaning to the concept of “providing access to justice to the marginalized”. This makes true the promise of our Constitution to make our justice system work and accessible to all,” Nograles said in his sponsorship speech.