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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider What 15-year-old law did Libanan get feted for?

What 15-year-old law did Libanan get feted for?

Published Oct 15, 2022 03:02 pm

A law that House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan authored over 15 years ago has recently earned him a special award from the Public Attorneys' Office (PAO).

House Minority Leader Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan (2nd from left) stands proudly during the 7th National Convention of Public Attorneys, where he received an award for his authorship of a 2007 law that transformed the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) into an independent agency providing free legal services to disadvantaged Filipinos.


Libanan was given a standing ovation during the 7th National Convention of Public Attorneys as he received a special award for his authorship of Republic Act (RA) No. 9406, which reinforced and transformed the PAO into a truly autonomous agency.

The law was enacted on March 23, 2007, when Libanan was still Eastern Samar congressman. It was signed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now Libanan's colleague in the 19th Congress.

The title of RA No.9406 is, "An Act reorganizing and strengthening the , amending for the purpose pertinent provisions of Executive Order No.292, otherwise known as the 'Administrative Code of 1987', as amended, granting special allowance to PAO officials and lawyers, and providing funds therefor."

When Libanan chaired the House Committee on Justice during the 13th Congress, he authored the law to “independently discharge its (PAO) mandate to render, free of charge, legal representation, assistance and counseling to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases".

On top of this, RA No.9406 guaranteed PAO’s self-governance, despite it being housed together with the National Prosecution Service under the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The 4Ps Party-list solon was the guest speaker during the PAO convention.

“To my mind, the noblest expression of the legal profession can be found in the work that you do,” the veteran legislator told the public attorneys in his speech.

“If not for the PAO lawyers, ordinary people would lack legal representation and would be lost and taken advantage of by an uncaring system,” the minority leader said.

“As a lawyer like yourselves, I have the greatest respect for those who toil day in and day out in their offices and in the halls of justice, taking the cudgels for our citizens who are unable to pay for the costs of litigation and sound legal counsel,” Libanan added.
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