House approves on 2nd reading bill providing free legal assistance to AFP, PNP officers & enlisted personnel

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 29): House approves on 2nd reading bill providing free legal assistance to AFP, PNP officers & enlisted personnel

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill seeking to provide free legal assistance to any officer or enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on any charge before the prosecutor’s office, court, administrative or any competent body arising from an incident or incidents related to the performance of official duty.

The House approval of the proposal embodied in House Bill 6413, which substituted HB 6026 principally authored by Rep. Felix William B. Fuentebella (4th District, Camarines Sur) was done before the congressional adjournment.

Fuentebella, a vice chairman of the Committee on Energy, said in the Philippines, most people may construe the law as favoring the rich over the poor. He said the common man, like the officers and lowly enlisted personnel of the AFP and the PNP, cannot afford to engage the services of a lawyer due to the prohibitive cost of legal services even to defend himself of charges related to the performance of his official duties.

“Where is justice therefore in this case? It is worthy to share the words of former Vice President Salvador P. Laurel: Without justice, no one can feel secured. Without security, there can be no faith. Without faith, there can be no peace. And without peace, this nation may perish,” said Fuentebella.

House Bill 6413 was endorsed for plenary approval by the Committee on Justice chaired by Rep. Niel C. Tupas, Jr. (5th District, Iloilo).

The bill provides that any officer or enlisted personnel of the AFP and the PNP, who is facing before the prosecutor’s office, court, administrative or any competent body, any charge arising from an incident or incidents related to the performance of official duty shall be entitled to free legal assistance.

Within 24 hours from the official receipt of the information that an officer or enlisted personnel is charged, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chairperson of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) or the Chief of the PNP shall authorize any lawyer or lawyers of their respective agencies, with the assistance of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), to provide free legal assistance to any officer or enlisted personnel of the AFP and the PNP.

Moreover, within 60 days from the effectivity of the Act, the PAO, in coordination with the AFP, NAPOLCOM and the PNP shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the Act.

The bill is co-authored by Tupas, Reps. Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte (6th District, Quezon City), George P. Arnaiz (2nd District, Negros Oriental), Silvestre H. Bello III (Party-list, 1 BAP) and Lino S. Cayetano (2nd District, Taguig City).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=861613