Provision of legal aid for police, uniformed personnel covered by PAO —Guevarra

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday there is an existing government mechanism that extends legal assistance to policemen and uniformed personnel who get sued in the course of performing their official duties.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has a “standing directive” to the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on this matter.

“Provision of free legal assistance is subject however to the PAO’s evaluation of the case, including a determination of conflict of interest, as when the adverse party has also sought legal assistance from the PAO,” he said.

Guevarra issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress during his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday to pass a law providing free legal assistance to military and police officers as well as enlisted personnel “to help [defend] them from charges arising from incidents related to the performance of official duty.”

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police, said he would push for the passage of such a measure.

Duterte also urged Congress to pass a unified system of retirement and pension for military and uniformed personnel aimed at maintaining government fiscal flexibility and providing adequate benefits and remuneration to men and women in uniform.

He clarified, however, that this would apply only to the new entrants of the military and uniformed services.—AOL, GMA News