The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), an agency under the Department of Justice (DOJ), has 27 new lawyers who took their oaths of office before PAO Chief Persida V. Rueda Acosta last Tuesday, Oct. 26.
Thirty-seven newly promoted lawyers also took their oaths.
Addressing the new lawyers, Acosta said: “Please love your work, love our country, love our fellow men, our clients, and love your family.”
Acosta said many of those who took their oaths are still young and would face many challenges in the future.
“Subalit lakasan natin ang ating loob (But you should strong). Kakampi natin ang diyos, kasama natin siya habang tayo ay nagtatapat sa ating tungkulin sa bayan at sa Diyos (God is with us. He is on our side as we fulfill our duties for the country and for God),” she said.
Among its functions, PAO renders free legal representation, assistance, and counselling to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases.