By Hanah Tabios In a bid to help individuals who have been unlawfully apprehended by authorities under the rules of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the UP College of Law launched Monday its free online legal assistance to the public. Called #UPLawHelps, the project is an initiative of the UP College of Law and the UP Law Center, through its dean and law professor Fides Cordero Tan. This brings together a wide network of professionals, including its own faculty members and lecturers, research and extension personnel, UP Law Student Government and student organizations, student volunteers from the UP College of Law’s Clinical Legal Education Program as well as other classes, and other UP Law alumni who are volunteer lawyers representing primarily the victims of discrimination. To recall, some members of the urban poor in Sitio San Roque in Quezon City were allegedly illegally arrested for violating the lockdown on April 1. A former representative of a progressive group and some relief workers were also held by Bulacan police at a checkpoint on Sunday, April 19, as they were supposed to deliver relief goods to farmers and urban poor in Norzagaray, Bulacan. “Sa panahon ng ligalig, buong-pusong nagkakaisa ang komunidad ng UP Law na ipagpatuloy ang paglilingkod sa sambayanan sa pamamagitan ng pagmumulat sa karapatan at pagbigay kaalaman tungkol sa mga batas at patakaran sa ilalim nitong Enhanced Community Quarantine (In times of trouble, the UP Law community is united in serving the people by letting them know what their rights are under the rules and policies of the ECQ). UP Law helps not only because we can, but also because we must,” Cordero-Tan said in a statement. Services According to the college’s website, the areas covered by the project include: • The exercise of civil and political rights; • The conduct of private and public entities specific to the rights of Covid-19 patients; • The interruption of businesses and other day-to-day operations, in relation to payments and like obligations; and, • Conflicting rights and obligations arising from scenarios particular to Covid-19 or the ECQ. Several teams have been formed, including the Civil and Political Rights (CPRT), operating out of the UP Law Civil and Political Rights Clinic under former Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Theodore O. Te; Covid-19 Patients and Family Rights (PFRT), operating through Volunteer Lawyers Against Discrimination handled by Atty. Divina E. Pedron; Conduct of Business (CBT), operating through volunteer lawyers from UP Law Class of 1993 under Atty. Paul Alcudia; and Rights under Quarantine (RQT), operating through the UP Office of Legal Aid under its director Carlo L. Vistan. The academic institution also said that additional teams may be formed if the need arises. Interested clients who wish to seek advice or avail of the free legal assistance may send their requests through this e-mail [email protected]. The college said all requests will be accommodated from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.