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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Proposed free legal assistance to uniformed personnel OK'd at committee level

Proposed free legal assistance to uniformed personnel OK'd at committee level

Published Nov 16, 2022 07:06 pm

Another priority measure of the Marcos administration was approved at the committee level on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Approved "in principle" by the House Committees on Justice, on Public Order and Safety, and on National Defense and Security Wednesday was the proposal providing free legal assistance to uniformed personnel of the government facing charges arising from an incident related to the performance of official duty.

During the joint hearing, the three House panels carried a motion to consolidate a total of 10 measures providing free legal assistance to uniformed personnel.

These 10 measures were House Bill (HB) Nos. 8, 1259, 1755, 1901, 2192, 2909, 4193, 4626, 4805 and 5193.

The resulting substitute bill and committee report will subsequently be endorsed to the House plenary.

The measure covers uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

It is one of the 30 bills in the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, in his sponsorship speech, said uniformed personnel of the government put their lives on the line on a daily basis so that people may enjoy the peace and order envisioned under the law.
“However, in the course of the performance of their duties a number of these personnels are at times accused of harassment, human rights violation, and other charges,” Acidre said.

“It is within this context that we would like to introduce HB No.8, which provides for free legal assistance to the uniformed personnel arising from an incident related to the performance of official duty.”

Also serving as authors of HB No.8 were House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez.

Related Tags

free legal assistance house Marcos administration 111622 Committee level PRIORITY uniformed personnel
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