Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles has called on law schools that have existing free legal aid programs to take up the cudgels for frontliners and COVID-positive patients who are victims of discrimination.
“Even as our law schools, and schools in general are grappling with the learning challenges brought about by this pandemic, baka naman puwedeng magpatuloy ang mga legal clinic natin to cater to those in need, particularly our frontliners, kasama na ang mga positive patients o kahit mga suspected o probable persons pa lang,” the Harvard-trained lawyer said.
Law school administrators could even treat time served by students in the legal aid clinics as credit for other subjects.
Nograles has a pending bill in Congress that pushes for the mandatory establishment of free legal aid programs by all law schools in the country.
The “Legal Aid Program Act of 2019” aims to address the case backlog of the Public Attorney’s Office through the said programs.
The neophyte solon also earlier expressed his support to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ commitment to defend frontliners against discrimination and human rights violations.
“Kung patuloy na mag-operate ang mga free legal clinic ng mga law schools, at least nabibigyan pa rin natin ng training ang mga future lawyers, bukod sa nakakatulong pa sa mga nangangailangan,” said Nograles.
The lawmaker said law school administrators could even mull treating time served by students in serving in the legal aid clinics as credit for other subjects.
“The practice of law and the quest for justice doesn’t stop with the quarantine. Patuloy pa rin ang abuso, at may nangangailangan pa rin ng tulong, kaya sana tumugon ang mga law school natin sa hamong ito,” he added.
Just last week, the Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination (VLAD) was formed by alumni of the UP College of Law and is now composed of lawyers coming from more than 20 different law schools nationwide. The group helps victims of discrimination related to the pandemic, particularly patients and frontliners, including OFWs.