The Department of Justice, through its Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), assured on Tuesday that it could provide unlimited legal services to indigent clients in the six provinces of the Bicol Region.
During Tuesday’s Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas at the Department of Social Welfare and Development office here, PAO lawyer Gezel Garcia said their office represents free-of-charge all qualified for legal assistance and counseling in criminal, civil, labor, administrative, and other quasi-judicial cases.
Unlimited means services are given to the poor seeking justice repeatedly and regardless of the number of cases.
“PAO was created based on the constitutional mandate of free access to the court. No person shall be denied access to the court because of poverty. As long as the client is a qualified indigent citizen, they can avail of the PAO service, which is free of charge,” Garcia said.
PAO-Bicol in 31 district offices served 1,197,084 clients from the six provinces from July 2022 to July 2024.
“Our PAO lawyers commensurate the number of cases they handle and the services we offer,” Garcia said.
He ensured that all cases handled by the 126 PAO lawyers and 46 support staff were not compromised since they were monitored monthly.
PAO also provides legal documentation and administration of oaths, legal assistance during inquest proceedings and custodial investigations, jail visitation and home visitation, barangay outreach activities, and legal aid information dissemination.
It also offers free legal representation during arraignment, pre-trial and promulgation of judgment.
Under the mediation and conciliation program, disputes settled reached 3,556 while 9,768 received legal assistance during inquest proceedings.
Likewise, he noted that their office has helped release 6,323 persons deprived of liberty since 2022.
“In some instances, cases undergo medication and conciliation to help the court declog the court dockets. For the petty crimes, we can finish them at the PAO level,” Garcia said.
PAO’s office is seven days a week and lawyers may go beyond the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. official hours “to provide the needed services,” Garcia said. (PNA)
