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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PAO lawyers succumbing to depression, anxiety—Acosta

PAO lawyers succumbing to depression, anxiety—Acosta

Published Oct 27, 2025 04:40 pm

At A Glance

  • Many Public Attorney's Office (PAO) lawyers are succumbing to psychiatric illnesses due to the heavy workload, PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said on Monday, October 27.


Many Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) lawyers are succumbing to psychiatric illnesses due to the heavy workload, PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said on Monday, October 27.

Acosta disclosed the agency’s problem during the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the proposed budget of the PAO for 2026. PAO is requesting a P6.693-billion budget for next year.

“Nagkakaroon ng psychiatric problem yung ibang lawyers ko, bumibigay. Kahit may mga doctor kami nag-aalaga sa kanila, bumibigay sila sa anxiety, depression. Marami na pong bumigay. Ako na lang di bumibigay sa dami ng problema ng ating bayan (Some of our lawyers are succumbing to psychiatric problem. Even though we have doctors who take care of them, they yield to anxiety and depression. So many of them have succumbed. I’m the only one who can’t do that because our nation have so many problems),” Acosta said when Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate finance panel inquired about the working conditions of PAO lawyers.

“Kaya malaking bagay po na madagdagan ang lawyers namin at saka mapagawa yung building namin (That’s why it would be good if we can have additional lawyers and our building renovated),” she said.

According to the PAO chief, the agency has 2, 681 lawyers, with only two unfilled positions as of June 30, 2025,  but one lawyer is handling at least 300 cases a month.

Moreover, she said PAO is sticking to its rules and refusing clients is not allowed.

“Yes, bawal tumanggi, kung di mo kaya magpapa-relieve ka sa pwedeng gumanap (Yes, you can't refuse, if you can't handle a case, you'll need to find someone who can relieve you of the burden),” she said.

Gatchalian agreed with Acosta saying he believes that the hiring of additional 500 PAO lawyers would help lower the case load. Acosta said doing that too, would help deter the senior PAO lawyers from departing the agency and lessen the burden of the junior lawyers.

With this, the PAO chief urged the Senate panel to help them increase their budget for the hiring of 500 additional lawyers for next year to augment the number of lawyers in the agency.

“That proposal, for additional 500 lawyers, is not yet included in the budget,” Acosta informing the panel that they already appealed to the House Speaker and the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations for the augmentation.

Acosta said part of the agency’s plan for next year is to finally start allowing PAO lawyers to take a paid “wellness leave.”

She lamented that judges and those working at the prosecutor’s office are entitled to a paid wellness leave of at least 1 month or 30 days, but PAO lawyers do not have such privilege.

“Natatakot naman ako pumirma ng order na magkaroon sila ng wellness leave eh pano kung nag wellness si PAO (lawyer) walang hahawak nung kaso nung maralitang Pilipino, mumurahin naman ako ng kliyenta (I’m afraid to sign an order so they can avail of a wellness leave, because what if a PAO lawyer goes on leave and no one else can handle a case filed by a poor Filipino. The clients will curse us),” she explained.

“Kaya ngayon wala kaming wellness. Kaya marami sa kanila nagkakasakit, bumibigay talaga (That’s why right now, we don’t have a wellness leave. That’s why so many of them are getting sick),” she said.

Acosta assured the panel providing a paid wellness leave to PAO lawyers would not require additional budget, because it would be part of their employment benefits.

“Kung madagdagan kami ng 500 lawyers, items, next year, pwede na pong magbigay ng wellness (leave) sa kanila. Kasi may papalit sa kanilang mga magli-leave (if we get to have 500 additional lawyers next year, then we can start giving wellness leave. Because finally somebody can substitute for them when they go on leave),” she told the Senate committee.

Related Tags

Mental health Public Attorney\'s Office 2026 budget Persida Acosta
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