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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Here's what Cong Duterte thinks will happen if cops, soldiers get free legal assistance

Here's what Cong Duterte thinks will happen if cops, soldiers get free legal assistance

Published Dec 27, 2022 04:41 pm

Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte believes that the potential enactment of Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Bill will serve as a morale boost to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies covered by it.

(Mark Balmores/ File photo/ MANILA BULLETIN)

On top of this, the potential law will also improve productivity among the law enforcers, Duterte said.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives approved House Bill (HB) No.6509 or the free legal assistance to MUPs measure on third and final reading.

Covered under HB No.6509 are officers or uiformed personnel of the AFP, PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), who are facing charges before the prosecutor’s office, courts or any competent body arising from an incident related to their official duties.

The measure is a consolidation of a bill jointly filed by Duterte and Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Go Yap, along with other similar measures calling for such benefit to uniformed personnel "who are wrongfully accused and charged, especially when their job involves having to expose high-profile criminal syndicates".

“Free legal assistance will strengthen our uniformed personnel’s morale, safeguarding them from unfortunate circumstances that may come with performing their sworn duties. This free legal assistance, in the premise that is not misused, could serve as an incentive and boost productivity,” Duterte and Yap said.

Under the bill, any MUP facing criminal, civil or administrative charges involving service-related incidents before a prosecutor’s office, court, administrative body, or any competent body or tribunal, shall be entitled to free legal assistance.

Those who have been granted free legal aid shall continue to enjoy this privilege even after their retirement from the service.

“Retired officers or uniformed personnel shall also be given free legal assistance for cases or charges involving service-related incidents committed by such retired officers or uniformed personnel while still in active duty,” the bill further states.

The Davao lawmaker urged the Senate to pass the counterpart measure of HB No.6509 once Congress resumes session next month.

HB No.6509 mandates the leaderships of the AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, and PCG to submit to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) their respective revised organizational structures and staffing patterns for their legal offices to ensure adequate and effective free legal assistance to their qualified MUP.

The bill also states that “The government lawyer so designated to provide legal assistance to an officer or uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP shall be entitled to payment of actual travel and other expenses, including Special Counsel Allowance, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations."

Under the measure, qualified MUP may also be provided, “in the interest of justice,” with private counsel at the expense of the government when necessary, Duterte said.

If the measure is passed into law, it will also be applicable to all MUP with pending charges involving service-related incidents, he added.

Congress is currently on a five-week holiday recess.

Related Tags

productivity eric go yap morale Paolo Duterte free legal assistance MUP 122722 PNP AFP Third and Final Reading boost
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