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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Acosta demands apology from senatorial bet Raffy Tulfo for 'besmirching' PAO's integrity

Acosta demands apology from senatorial bet Raffy Tulfo for 'besmirching' PAO's integrity

Published Apr 4, 2022 04:45 pm

Public Attorney's Office

The visibly irked Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida V. Rueda Acosta on Monday, April 4, demanded apology from senatorial candidate Raffy T. Tulfo for “besmirching” the reputation and integrity of her office.

“My PAO lawyers and the Public Attorney’s Office as a whole are entitled to an apology from you,” Acosta said during a virtual press conference.

Her demand for an apology was in connection with the statement reportedly issued by Tulfo in a recent television interview.

During the interview, Tulfo said he plans to put up his own free legal assistance clinic once elected as he cited that, in spite of high salaries of PAO lawyers, “pag pumunta ka sa mga inquest proceedings mapapansin mo yung mga mahihirap wala silang representation from the PAO (when you go to inquest proceedings you will notice that the poor have no representation from the PAO).”

“Actualy libelous yung sinabi mo Mr. T, (What Tulfo said is libelous),” Acosta warned as she pointed out that Tulfo did give any basis for his statement.

“Where is your basis? Nasaan ang ebidensya mo? Sinong kliyente ang pinabayaan ng PAO (Where is your evidence? Who was the client that PAO neglected?),” Acosta asked Tulfo.

Instead of making hasty generalizations, Acosta advised Tulfo to identify the erring PAO lawyers who are not doing their jobs.

“Pangalanan niyo po sino po ba yang problema niyo na PAO lawyer na hindi uma-attend ng custodial investigation and inquest proceedings at kakasuhan ko po (Name those PAO lawyers who are not attending custodial investigation and inquest proceedings and I will file charges against them),” she declared.

“Para po sa kaalaman ninyo Mr. T (Tulfo) mahigit na pong 10 abogado ang sinibak namin dito after notice and hearing. May due process po kami dito. E kayo po parang walang due process ang ginawa niyo e (For your information there have been 10 lawyers who have been fired after notice and hearing. We have due process here. But you it seems have none),” she told Tulfo.

Acosta cited that in 2021 alone, PAO assisted 9,707,274 persons including 85,533 individuals during inquest investigation and custodial interrogation despite restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“May pangalan po ng tao ito. May pangalan po ng kliyente ito. May clients form pong pinipirmahan ang mga kliyente. Hindi po ito imbento (These people have names. Our clients sign forms. These numbers are not fabricated),” she assured.

At the same time, Acosta expressed her dismay on Tulfo’s criticism on the salaries PAO lawyers receive.

“Bago sila tumanggap ng allowance at sweldo report muna. Kami po dito ay gumagamit ng public financial management na performance based. Meron kaming quantitative at qualitative analysis ng performance ng bawat isa (Before our lawyers get their salaries and allowances, they have to submit reports. We use public financial management that is performance based. We have quantitative and qualitative analysis of the performance of each person),” she explained.

“Ano po ang gusto ninyo sa mga PAO lawyer bumalik sa dati na ang barong ay kupas, ang mdeyas ay butas at ang sikmura ay kumakalam dahil walang pambili ng pagkain at meryenda si PAO lawyer at kapag nagugutom ang kliyente pareho silang gutom? (Do you want PAO lawyers to go back to the times when they wear worn suits and battered socks; to the time when they have no money to buy meals and snacks; to the times that both PAO lawyer and clients have nothing to eat),” she asked Tulfo.

She pointed out that PAO has no manpower to man all police precincts nationwide and wait for someone to undergo inquest proceedings.

“On call kami sa mga presinto, tatawagan kami ng nakahuling pulis (We are on call and the police calls us whenever a person is facing inquest),” said Acosta who noted that police, prosecutors and judges have the telephone numbers of PAO.

She reminded Tulfo that PAO has been working with his television show and promptly acting on his referrals.

“Pipila pa tapos sa amin rin ang deretso (People line up to his show but they end up with the PAO),” she pointed out.

Acosta reminded the public that the PAO’s legal services are free and they do not need referrals from Tulfo’s show.

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