​Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas on Saturday, April 26, has expressed concern over the passage of the law that gives free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel, saying it could embolden them and entrench a culture of impunity in the country.

While her fellow lawmakers called the passing of the law proof of the government's commitment to its defenders, Brosas said the new measure could actually create "a dangerous imbalance in our justice system".

"Victims of state violence, many of whom are poor and marginalized, struggle to access legal aid while their alleged perpetrators now enjoy state-funded defense," she said.

Brosas said the new law must be junked "because the culture of impunity in the country will only worsen".

The lawmaker had consistently opposed the law during House deliberations. Why she had done so was because the Philippines, she said, already has a troubling record of human rights violations committed by military and police forces that go unpunished, with victims facing immense challenges in seeking justice.

"The stark reality is that victims of state violence—women, farmers, workers, indigenous peoples, and activists—face insurmountable barriers in seeking justice," she said.

"Ngayon, pinapaboran pa natin ang mga posibleng human rights violators sa pamamagitan ng libreng legal aid, habang ang mga biktima ay nag-iisa at walang kakayahang kumuha ng abogado (Now, we are turning in favor of possible human rights violators through free legal aid, while the victims are left alone and don't have the capability to get their own lawyers)," she added.

She also pointed out that the law's broad definition of "service-related incidents" could potentially cover cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, illegal detention, and other human rights violations committed under the guise of official duties.

“The government should prioritize strengthening legal aid services for victims of state violence and human rights abuses. We need to address the glaring power imbalance in our justice system that consistently favors those in uniform over ordinary citizens seeking accountability," she said.

"What we need is a Commission on Human Rights with teeth—one that can effectively investigate abuses, prosecute perpetrators, and provide comprehensive support to victims," she added.