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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Remulla to PAO: 'No conflict of interest; represent all poor litigants in their cases'

Remulla to PAO: 'No conflict of interest; represent all poor litigants in their cases'

Published Feb 20, 2023 04:20 pm

Public Attorney's Office

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla is pushing to have the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) represent all poor litigants and not to turn down legal assistance due to conflict of interest.

Conflict of interest arises when one of the litigants in a case is already represented by PAO and the other party in the case is seeking PAO’s legal assistance and both of them are qualified for free legal service.

“Hindi ho pwedeng mawalan ng abogado ang mahihirap na Filipino kahit kailan (Poor Filipinos should not be deprived of the services of lawyers),” Remulla told journalists covering the Department of Justice (DOJ).

PAO, an agency under the DOJ, has a policy not to represent poor parties in cases due to conflict of interest if one of the parties is already represented by the PAO.

“Inaalis na namin ‘yun para lahat ng Filipino na kailangan ng abogado ay hindi mawawalan ng abogado (We will remove that policy so that Filipinos who need lawyers will not be deprived of legal representation),” he said.

He also said he has stated discussions on the issue with PAO Chief Persida V. Rueda Acosta.

“Sinimulan na namin ni Chief Public Attorney at madali naman pagkasunduan ‘yun (I started talks with Acosta and it can be easily agreed upon),” he said.

“Aalalay sila sa mga tao pero otherwise gusto natin meron defense counsel lagi ang mga Filipino na libre at galing sa gobyerno (The PAO will assist but we still want poor Filipinos facing cases to have defense lawyers whose services are free and provided for by the government),” he added.

He disclosed that the issue of conflict of interest has been raised during his discussions with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on how to strengthen the PAO.

“Pinag-uusapan namin kung paano pa namin palalakasin ang Public Attorney’s Office sapagkat nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon na nawawalan ng abogado ‘yung mga mahihirap dahil sa conflict of interest ng Public Attorney’s Office (I talked with the IBP on how to strengthen PAO because there hav been instances where poor persons couldn’t get lawyers because of this conflict of interest),” he also said.

TAGS: #PAO #Sec. Remulla # IBP #Conflict of interest #Poor litigants

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