The Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) signed on Monday, July 29, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would provide free legal aid to more Filipinos.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla and PALS President Teodoro A. Pastrana signed the MOA.
In a statement, Remulla said: "This momentous occasion is testament to the unwavering efforts of President Marcos' Bagong Pilipinas political slogan that no Filipino shall be left behind as the country moves forward to progress."
“With this initiative, we unconditionally open the doors of justice for the welfare of more Filipinos, regardless of their social status," he said.
Under the agreement, “the DOJ Action Center (DOJAC) undertakes to endorse to law schools with legal aid clinics clients who fail to be considered as ‘indigents’ or are disqualified from availing the services of DOJAC or PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) due to existing rules and regulations, subject to validation by the law school concerned.”
“DOJAC shall foster and boost its internship/externship programs and conduct capacity building trainings to provide practical skills and knowledge to law students assigned to the DOJ" while "PALS would agree to accept endorsements from DOJAC and if unable to accommodate the same, shall endorse them to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or lawyers providing the needed legal service,” the agreement stipulates.
The agreement also provides that “PALS shall promote the DOJ internship program among its member schools and actively participate in the trainings formulated by the DOJ.”
"Both parties assume the responsibility of advocating jail decongestion activities centered on providing persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) a better access to legal services," it also stated.
“The MOA shall be in effect upon its signing until revoked through a mutual agreement between the parties and shall be subjected to review six months from its date of execution,” the DOJ said.