here - Public Attorneys Office

Republika ng Pilipinas
Kagawaran ng Katarungan
Tanggapan ng Manananggol Pambayan
(PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE)
DOJ Agencies Building, NIA Rd. cor. East Ave. 1104 Diliman, Quezon City
Telephone Nos. 929-90-10/929-94-36; FAX Nos. 927-68-10/ 926-28-78
ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT
OF THE PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
For the Period Covering January to December 2011
PREFATORY STATEMENT
In support and compliance with the rule of law, access to justice, and
governance framework, strategies and principles of H. E. President Benigno S.
Aquino III’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016, this annual report
reflects, among other things, the performance and accomplishments of the Public
Attorney’s Office (PAO) covering the period from January to December 2011. It
speaks of the unwavering discharge of the office of its mandated duty, pursuant to the
Constitution, Republic Act No. 9406 (PAO Law), and the reason for its existence,
which is to provide free access to courts and legal assistance for the benefit of the
indigent litigants, the oppressed, marginalized and underprivileged members of the
society.
This principal legal aid office of the government, in faithful compliance with its
assigned task, has carried out the performance of every measure for the further
enhancement of its service to the public. To ensure that justice is served to all, in
consonance with its coordinated effort with different government agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the PAO, upon the request of the said parties,
has entered into a Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) aimed at providing free legal
assistance not only to the qualified employees of the said government agencies but
also to the people within the realm of these agencies’ mandated duties and these
NGOs’ advocacies.
Among the government agencies with whom the office has an existing
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or with whom the latter is committed to serve
by virtue of a directive from the Department of Justice (DOJ) are the Philippine
National Police (PNP), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC),
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and
an organization of local government executives, the League of Municipalities of the
Philippines (LMP). Evidently, this is a major accomplishment, in furtherance of
serving justice to those who are in need of its services.
In order to further extend its services, the Public Attorney’s Office has also
entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with several non-governmental
organizations, the latest of which are with the Ateneo Law School Legal Services
Center (ALS-LSC), Ateneo de Manila Law Alumni Association, Inc. (ALAAI), the
Santuario de San Antonio Parish (SDSAP); and the Media Office of the Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The noble goal of the said
memoranda is the mutual cooperation of the parties for the advancement of the
welfare of the qualified clients as well as giving free legal education to the public.
Under the principle of collaboration and mutual cooperation with NGOs and
religious groups, again, this is a major accomplishment of the office in making its
services obtainable by those who are in need.
The Filipino people could really say now that justice is available to them by
reason of the efforts being carried out by the PAO to make its services more
accessible. Juan De la Cruz has no longer any reason to say that he does not know the
law in view of the enhancement in the service being undertaken by the office. New
district offices were opened, radio program appearances of public attorneys,
attendance in symposiums/seminars as resource person/speakers, PAO 24/7 hotline,
different publications, TV show “Public Atorni” and PAO website are maintained.
These endeavors, which are compliant with the PDP (2011-2016), are clearly for the
main purpose of making the services of the Office available and accessible to the
public.
It is of great pride that the Public Attorney’s Office could say that as part of the
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) matrix in Chapter 7 (Good Governance) of
the said PDP, its program of conducting mediation and conciliation is very successful.
Corollary thereto, the office has strengthened the said program as part of its quasijudicial service. The Office’s procedure for mediation and conciliation was amended
in order to make it more effective in resolving the controversy being proferred by the
parties. Unquestionably, this mediation and conciliation conducted by the office will
aid the court in de-clogging its dockets.
Although not asking for any recognition in return for all the hard work it has
done in complying with its constitutional mandate and reason for existence, the
Public Attorney’s Office and the Chief Public Attorney received several awards and
recognition from various organizations. While it is of great honor, the Public
Attorney’s Office will never be satisfied and will continue to serve the public until
justice is served to those who deserve it and will always be a government institution
dutiful to its mandate toward the attainment of the “Matuwid na Landas Program” of
H. E. President Benigno S. Aquino III.
I.
THE OFFICE
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9406, entitled “An Act Reorganizing and
Strengthening the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Amending for the Purpose
Executive Order No. 292 Otherwise Known as the Administrative Code of 1987,”
was passed by the 13th Congress, where H. E. President Aquino was then an
illustrious member of the House of Representatives and signed into law on March 23,
2007. R.A. No. 9406 established the PAO as an independent and autonomous
Office attached to the Department of Justice for the purpose of policy and program
coordination. It maintains its Central Office at the DOJ Agencies Building, NIA
Road corner East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, an edifice allotted for various
agencies under the Department of Justice. The regional and district/sub-district
offices, on the other hand, are strategically located nationwide responding to indigent
clients from 80 provinces, 138 cities, 1,496 municipalities and 42,026 barangays
which are in dire need of legal assistance.
2
At present, the PAO has 17 regional offices, 287 district and 8 sub-district
offices. Most of the offices are situated at the Halls of Justice nationwide along with
the courts and other offices involved in the administration of justice. However, some
district offices are housed at rented office spaces like the PAO-Manila District Office,
etc.
II.
PAO LAWYERS, THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT OFFICES,
AND THE COURTS
As of December 2011, the PAO has 1,533 public attorneys, 1,449 of whom
are actively handling criminal and civil cases before 2,197 courts and quasi-judicial
cases before quasi-judicial bodies nationwide, and about 42 of them devote
themselves on appealed cases before the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court and
the Office of the President. However, handling of criminal and civil cases and
representation of clients in courts as above-stated are only parts of the functions of the
public attorneys. They also render non-judicial services and handle such other limited
and special services as shown hereafter.
Below is a table indicating the number of existing offices and assigned lawyers
in each region as of December 2011:
REGION
Central Office
National Capital Region
Cordillera Administrative Region
I
Ilocos Region
II
Cagayan Valley
III
Central Luzon
IV-A
CALABARZON
IV-B
MIMAROPA
V
Bicol Region
VI
Eastern Visayas
VII
Central Visayas
VIII
Western Visayas
IX-A
ARMM
IX-B
Zamboanga Peninsula
X
Northern Mindanao
DISTRICT / SUBDISTRICT OFFICES
16
PUBLIC
ATTORNEYS
103
276
11, 1 (sub-district)
51
21
87
13
65
25, 1 (sub-district)
95
33
117
11
45
19
62
18
116
21, 1 (RSACU)
87
24
88
2, 1 (sub-district)
32
14, 1 (satellite office)
58
18, 2 (sub-district)
86
3
XI
Davao Region
XII
SOCCSKSARGEN
XIII
CARAGA
11
59
11, 1 (satellite office)
62
11
44
TOTAL
287
1,533
The establishment of district offices in different regions of the country
complements the agency’s mission to provide litigants free access to courts, judicial
and quasi-judicial agencies by rendering legal assistance. The PAO envisions the
establishment of adequate district offices to enhance the accessibility of services of the
PAO, in order that justice could efficiently be delivered in spite of geographical
fragmentation.
For the first semester of the year 2011, the PAO created two (2) district offices,
the Plaridel, Bulacan District Office located in Region III and the Banaybanay,
Davao Oriental District Office in Region XI. For the second semester, the Office
created (5) district offices in Kawit, Cavite and the City of Dasmariñas, Cavite, both in
the CALABARZON Region; Itogon, Benguet in the Cordillera Autonomous Region
(CAR); Pateros in the National Capital Region (NCR); and the re-opened Siocon
District Office in Region 9-B.
III.
A.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CLIENTS ASSISTED AND CASES HANDLED
The statistical figures below show the total number of indigent clients assisted
and the total number of cases handled by the PAO and its proportionate relation to
the 1,449 lawyers who are actively handling criminal, civil and quasi-judicial cases for
the periods covering January to December 2011.
Total No. of Clients Assisted
5,835,027
Total No. of Cases Handled
680,858
Average No. of Clients Assisted by Each Lawyer
3,806
Average No. of Cases Handled by Each Lawyer
470
4
B.
ACQUITTALS/DISMISSAL OF CASES AND OTHER FAVORABLE
DISPOSITIONS
In spite of their overwhelming case loads, the public attorneys ably represented
indigent accused in court and facilitated the release and favorable disposition of cases
for indigent clients of PAO, by their acquittals, dismissal of cases, or for some other
reasons, their cases were favorably disposed of, as shown in the graph above.
The graph above shows the figures of acquittals, dismissal and other favorable
dispositions for the accused in criminal cases for the period covering January to
December 2011, totaling 173,572.
C.
WINNING AND APPEALED CASES
For criminal cases alone, a total of 147 favorable decisions were obtained for
the year 2011. The table below shows the breakdown of figures, to wit:
Acquittals from Reclusion Perpetua
72
Acquittals from Reclusion Temporal
75
TOTAL
147
Aside from criminal cases, the Special and Appealed Cases Service (SACS)
also handles civil and special cases such as appeals from the decision of NLRC, SSS
and GSIS. In those cases handled, a total of 187 favorable dispositions were obtained
by PAO-SACS from January to December 2011.
D. OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR INMATES: NATIONWIDE LAWYERS’
JAIL VISITATION & THE PAO-CENTRAL OFFICE LEGAL AND
MEDICAL JAIL VISITATION AND DECONGESTION PROGRAM
For the period covering January to December 2011, the public attorneys
nationwide were able to render legal assistance to 478,094 inmates. The breakdown is
stated below, to wit:
5
NATIONWIDE LAWYERS’ JAIL VISITATION
No. of Inmates Interviewed
No. of Inmates Provided with Legal Assistance
Total
233,874
244, 220
478,094
This outreach program for inmates has been strengthened by the PAO-Central
Office Legal, Medical, Dental and Optical Jail Visitation Program. With prior
approval of the then Hon. Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzales, this program was
started in 2007 and has been continuously conducted in various jails in the
Philippines, by the legal and medical teams from the Central Office, being led by the
Chief Public Attorney. The district offices that are nearest to the said jails are also
making simultaneous and/or separate visits therein. The table below shows the output
of the project for the period covering January to December 2011, to wit:
LEGAL AND MEDICAL JAIL DECONGESTION PROGRAM - 2011
VISITED JAIL
DATE
LEG
1 Makati City Jail
2 Pasay City Jail
Mandaluyong
3
City Jail
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
January
1ST
28, 2011
February
2ND
14, 2011
December
16TH
8, 2011
February
Taguig City Jail
2ND
14, 2011
San Pedro
Municipal Jail
Biñan Municipal February
3RD
Jail
15, 2011
Calamba City
Jail
Laguna
Provincial Jail
February
4TH
16, 2011
Siniloan
Municipal Jail
Teresa District
Jail
Tanay Municipal
Jail
Binangonan
(lock-up) Jail
March 4,
5TH
2011
Binangonan Jail
(BJMP)
Antipolo City
Jail
Morong
Municipal Jail
Marikina City
Jail
March 5,
6TH
2011
San Mateo
Municipal Jail
CAMP Karingal
May 13,
City Jail
8TH
2011
Quezon City Jail
NO. OF
NO. OF
NO. OF
TOTAL NO.
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARIES BENEFICIARIES
OF
FOR LEGAL
FOR MEDICAL FOR DENTAL INMATES
ASSISTANCE
ASSISTANCE
ASSISTANCE RELEASED
(ADVICE)
43
140
36
401
81
119
24
941
35
135
26
254
105
114
112
187
29
0
55
21
0
0
35
54
0
186
57
138
0
99
61
271
0
571
5
5
0
127
65
65
0
0
67
67
0
267
15
15
0
337
19
19
0
0
47
47
0
0
23
23
0
25
51
51
0
463
63
63
0
0
114
254
25
128
149
25
579
6
QC Female Dorm
(Camp Karingal) October
13TH
QC Jail (EDSA – 17, 2011
21
Kamuning)
20
22
23
24
25
26
27
Manila City Jail
(Male dorm)
June 4,
9TH
Manila City Jail
2011
(Female dorm)
Manila Youth
Reception
Manila City Jail
(Male Dorm)
Manila City Jail
November
14TH
(Female Dorm)
29, 2011
Manila Youth
Reception
Center
28 Pasig City Jail
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
June 14,
10TH
Camp Crame
2011
Custodial Center
NBP ( Maximum
Security Comp.) June 23,
11TH
2011
NBP ( Medium
Security Comp.)
NBP (Social and
Infirmary Of
August
Maximum
12TH
18, 2011
Security
Compound)
Maximum
Security
December
Compound
15th
2, 2011
Medium Security
Compound
Correctional
December
Institution for
16th
8, 2011
Women
TOTAL
172
207
223
268
196
260
37
80
138
226
33
30
40
104
24
10
178
219
33
90
72
193
28
25
49
470
13
20
224
182
27
42
6
43
2
0
103
191
17
93
207
21
38
167
31
133
139
0
222
100
0
369
301
20
3,332
5,100
521
935
0
5,179
E. LEGAL/INQUEST PROCEEDINGS ASSISTANCE
On their scheduled duties, the public attorneys and staff of the PAO-Central
Office have alternately been providing legal counseling and inquest proceedings
assistance even during night time, weekends and holidays since October 2009. For
this purpose, the PAO hotline, 929-9436, is open to the public 24/7.
In September 2010, the coverage of this program was widened for the benefit
of the people that are being served by the regional and district offices of the PAO
nationwide. Since then, the said offices have been rendering legal assistance (e.g. legal
advice, attending to the legal needs of suspects in the police stations within the
territorial jurisdiction of the concerned PAO regional/district offices) up to 10:00
p.m. everyday (including weekends and holidays) but even after 10:00 p.m. the
assigned PAO inquest public attorneys and staff therein remain on call during their
respective scheduled duties to attend to such inquest in the said police stations.
A total of 14,681 clients benefited from the services provided by the PAO
consisting of inquest assistance, legal advice/counseling and documentation at the
above duty stations covering the period January to December 2011.
7
IV. CASE LOAD STATISTICAL REPORT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT
For the year 2011, the PAO handled a total of 433,205 criminal cases,
comprising of 180,297 newly received cases and 252,908 carry over from the previous
year.
Out of the 164,282 terminated criminal cases from January to December
2011, there were 128,924 cases favorably disposed of or a 78.48% favorable
disposition obtained by the Public Attorneys assigned to handle the same.
8
As shown in the graphic presentation, Region 3, Region 4-A and the National
Capital Region where the bulk of criminal cases were filed are the regions which
obtained the highest favorable disposition rates of 27.12%, 19.66% and 17.32%,
respectively.
For the year 2011, the PAO handled a total of 52,411 civil cases including
newly received and carried over cases. During the same period, a total of 16,122 cases
were terminated.
9
The PAO handled a total of 8,132 administrative cases consisting of 5,992
carry-over cases and 2,140 newly received cases for the same period. A total of 1,457
cases were terminated.
At the Prosecutor’s level, the office handled a total of 57,319 cases, 26,258 of
which were newly received and 31,061 were carried over from the previous year. Out
of the said total number of cases, 23,499 were terminated.
10
In labor cases for the same period, the PAO was able to handle a total of
21,091 complaints, 4,590 of which were disposed of.
The Office also renders mediation and conciliation services as part of its quasijudicial function. For the period covering January to December 2011, it handled a
total of 374,880 disputes for conciliation and mediation and resolved a total of
262,675 disputes.
11
The Office has extended limited services to accused in criminal cases on
arraignment, pre-trial, promulgation of sentence and in other stages of the case. It
assisted for the same services a total of 835,688 accused.
12
The Office was able to render non-judicial services such as legal
documentation, counseling and administration of oaths to 3,169,474 clients.
In the barangay outreach activities conducted by the Office from January to
December 2011, it assisted a total of 177,225 clients.
Under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence
Against Women and their Children Act and Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9344, otherwise
13
known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare System Act, as well as the subsequent
pertinent issuances, the PAO is specifically mandated by the law to extend legal
assistance to women and their children who are victims of violence and to facilitate
the release of minor offenders from jail, particularly those who were fifteen (15) years
old or below at the time of the alleged commission of the crime.
To this mandated task, the PAO has continuously given special attention to the
cause of women and children in so far as the criminal justice system is concerned.
The graphs below show the number of women and children assisted by the
PAO for the year 2011.
From January to December of 2011, the Office handled a total of 80,968 and
17,367 cases involving women and CICL, respectively.
The above data show that the PAO successfully exceeded and surpassed its
target for the year 2011.
14
Out of the 34,924 terminated cases involving women from January to
December 2011, there were 22,397 cases favorably disposed of or a 64.13% favorable
disposition obtained by the Public Attorneys assigned to handle the same.
The highest rates of favorable disposition were obtained by Region 3 with
29.01%, Region 4-A with 22.80% and National Capital Region with 10.39%.
15
For the same period, a total of 5,809 cases involving children in conflict with
the law were terminated, 3,549 cases or 61.09% of which were favorably disposed of.
Out of the 61.09% favorable dispositions involving CICLs, the Top 3 regions
which obtained the highest rates are the CALABARZON Region with 31.90%,
National Capital Region with 29.59% and Central Luzon with 13.27%.
It is humbly submitted that the above data manifest and indicate the
continuous trust and faith of the people in the performance of the agency.
It is viewed that when the agency performs its duties and responsibilities with
the highest standard of efficiency and dedication, it gives its humble share in
converting and transforming public apathy and chaos into trust and faith to the
criminal justice system and ultimately to the entire administration.
V. THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC ATTORNEY
A.
The Office of the Chief Public Attorney signed/answered 55,615
communications from January to December 2011;
B.
The Office of the Chief Public Attorney served 17,073 clients during this
period;
C.
The Chief Public Attorney received the following prestigious awards, to wit:
1. Katibayan ng Pagkilala (Plaque of Recognition) from Isumbong Mo Kay
Tulfo!, DZIQ (Radyo Inquirer), December 23, 2011, Ortigas, Pasig City;
2. Plaque of Recognition for the free legal advice daily column in Bulgar entitled,
16
“Magtanong Kay Attorney”, from the national & international daily tabloid,
Bulgar, December 17, 2011, Quezon City;
3. Achievement in Public Service Award from the Filipino Academy of Movie
Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), December 10, 2011, National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Manila;
4. Citation for Public Service for “Public Atorni” from FAMAS, December 10,
2011, NCCA, Manila;
5. Best Public Service Program Host awarded by the Philippine Movie Press Club
(PMPC) during the 25th Star Awards for Television 2011, November 22, 2011,
Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World, Manila. (This is in
connection with the mediation and conciliation activities of the PAO, being
covered as reality mediation show entitled, “Public Atorni” being aired on TV5
and Aksyon TV.);
6. 2011 Most Outstanding Public Servant Award from the Gawad Amerika
Foundation, given during the 10th Annual Gawad Amerika Awards, November
5, 2011, Celebrity Center, Los Angeles, California;
7. Special Citation for Best Public Service Program for “Public Atorni” during the
33rd Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), on Oct. 19, 2011 at the San
Carlos Seminary Auditorium, EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City;
8. Dean of the College of Law Alumni Honor Roll Award for 2011 from the
University of the East College of Law, awarded on September 30, 2011,
Century Park Hotel, Malate, Manila;
9. Living Positively Award (Plaque of Recognition) from the Coca-Cola Export
Corporation, Inc. and Woman Today, for espousing the “Living Positively”
advocacy campaign, and for embodying the ideals of women empowerment,
given on May 10, 2011 at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City; and
10. Plaque of Merit awarded by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), May
9, 2011, NBI Head Office, Manila.
D.
The Chief Public Attorney attended the following local trainings and seminars
and served as resource person, thereto:
1. Convenor, Lecturer/Speaker, 4th MCLE Accredited National Convention of
Public Attorneys, December 12-16, 2011, Tent City, Manila Hotel, Manila;
2. Speaker, Supreme Court’s “Anti-Illegal Drugs Forum”, November 14, 2011,
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC);
3. Lecturer (on “Ethics in Professional Practice”), 1st Dr. Angel R. de Leon
Memorial Lecture, September 29, 2011, West Visayas State University College
of Medicine, La Paz, Iloilo City;
4. Lecturer, Lecture on “Ethical Practices in the Legal Profession”, September 29,
2011, University of Iloilo College of Law, Iloilo City;
5. Guest Speaker, Philippine Councilors League’s (PCL) 3rd Quarterly National
Executive Officers and National Board Meeting/Continuing Local Legislative
Education Program (CLLEP), September 15, 2011, Bohol Cultural Center,
Tagbilaran City;
6. Lecturer, Re-Orientation and Re-Organization of Barangay Council for the
Protection of Children, June 27, 2011, University of Rizal System, Tanay, Rizal;
7.Panelist/Reactor, Multi-Sectoral Seminar Workshop on Agrarian Justice, and
conducted by the Agrarian Justice Foundation Inc., February 4, 2011 at L’Fisher
Hotel, Bacolod City.
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E.
The Chief Public Attorney/Office of the Chief Public Attorney personally led and
handled the following cases and/or rendered legal assistance to the following
individuals, to wit:
1. The 71 civil cases filed by the PAO against Sulpicio Lines, Inc. (SLI) on
behalf of the victims of the M/V Princess of the Stars maritime tragedy, are on
continuous trial at RTC-Branch 51, Manila; same with the 64 civil cases filed
against SLI at RTC-Branch 10, Cebu City. The criminal case for Reckless
Imprudence is also ongoing at RTC-Branch 5, Manila;
2. In connection with the request of the wives of four (4) officials of the Bureau of
Jail Management and Penelogy (BJMP) who were captured in the line of duty,
the Chief Public Attorney requested the “Herminio Alfonso CommandGuerilla Front 53 Operations Command of the NPA-Southern Mindanao of
the Prisoner of War”, through National Democratic Front (NDF) Chairman
Luis Jalandoni with the help of former Bayan Muna Partylist Representative
Satur Ocampo to facilitate the said captives’ ransom-free release.
On October 8, 2011, in the mountains of Cotabato, the Chief Public Attorney
personally received the Release Orders issued by the Communist Party of the
Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) in favor of the said BJMP
personnel, who were released unharmed and ransom-free.
In relation thereto, both the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG), Hon. Jesse M. Robredo and Director of the
BJMP, Hon. Rosendo M. Dial, CESO III, commended the Chief Public
Attorney for her role in the release of the said BJMP personnel.
3. The PAO Forensic Team went to Romblon in May and July 2011, and in
cooperation with divers from the Philippine Coast Guard, was able to retrieve
fifteen (15) human remains from the wrecked M/V Princess of the Stars, 70
feet below sea level, off the coast of San Fernando, Sibuyan Island in the
province of Romblon. This is in connection with the legal assistance which the
PAO is giving to the relatives of the victims of the M/V Princess of the Stars
maritime tragedy, the latter being the clients of the PAO since June 2008;
4. Legal assistance to “Virgie”, who was allegedly raped on December 31, 2010,
by a police officer of the Integrity Task Force of the Manila Police District
(MPD). She was one of the three (3) women who were apprehended for
Vagrancy on that day by the said police officer. “Virgie” alleged that he took
her money amounting to P4,000.00 and sexually abused her before setting her
free. The MPD police officer was charged with Rape in March 2011, at the
Regional Trial Court-Branch 20 in Manila; and
5. Mediation conducted between the thirteen (13) victims of a plane crash in Las
Piñas City and Victoria Air Inc., the plane’s owner, which resulted to the
payment of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) by the owner to each of the said
victims on February 18, 2011. The 13 individuals who sought the legal
assistance of PAO were the owners of residential houses that were either totally
or partially damaged by fire caused by a plane that crashed and exploded
inside a compound at Villa Fidela Subdivision, Las Piñas on October 17, 2009.
The fire spread to the congested residential area in Las Piñas City, where the
18
houses of the 13 PAO clients were located. They sought the PAO’s legal
assistance in May 2010.
F.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AND THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION
FOR THE URBAN POOR
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Public Attorney’s Office
(PAO) and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) was
signed for the said offices by PAO Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta and PCUP
Chairman and CEO Hernani B. Panganiban on December 21, 2011 at the
PCUP National Office, Quezon City.
This MOA is in consonance with Administrative Order No. 265, Series of
2009, mandating the PAO and PCUP to work together on programs and
policies of providing free legal assistance to Metro Manila urban poor.
G.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF TYPHOON SENDONG
The Chief Public Attorney, through Memorandum Order No. 293 dated
December 19, 2011, directed the public attorneys of Northern Mindanao and
Dumaguete City to put up legal aid units at the evacuation centers within the
territorial jurisdiction of their respective districts.
By virtue of this directive, PAO was able to contribute in alleviating the plight
of the victims of typhoon Sendong, to wit:
No. of typhoon Sendong victims who
were given legal assistance
No. of documents made
H.
1,884
3,967
4th MCLE ACCREDITED NATIONAL CONVENTION OF PUBLIC
ATTORNEYS
The 4th MCLE Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys was
conducted from December 12-16, 2011 at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel.
The said convention was held in compliance with Rule 2, Bar Matter No. 850
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, which states that members of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) are required every three (3) years to
complete at least thirty-six (36) hours of continuing legal education activities
approved by the MCLE Committee constituted by the Supreme Court. It was
also conducted to empower the public attorneys and enhance their capacity in
delivering high quality public service in consonance with Chapter 7 (Good
Governance) of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
The PAO has been an authorized MCLE provider since August 5, 2002.
Every three (3) years, since 2003, the PAO has been providing its public
attorneys with the complete 36 unit-requirements without cost to its public
attorneys.
19
I.
PAO PARALEGAL PROGRAM
The PAO Paralegal Program was launched during PAO’s jail visitation at the
Quezon City Jail on October 17, 2011. The 25 PAO employees, who had an
Orientation on this outreach program for inmates on October 3, 2011 at the
PAO-Central Office, attended to their very first paralegal duties during the said
launching.
This program is the PAO’s response and appropriate action to the request of
the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local
Government/Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Executive Committee on
Persons Deprived of Liberty, Hon. Jesse M. Robredo for the Chief Public
Attorney to institutionalize a Paralegal Program.
J.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AND ATENEO LAW SCHOOL LEGAL
SERVICES CENTER, ET AL.
A MOA was signed relative to the Makati City Jail Decongestion Project
between and among the parties: the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Ateneo
Law School Legal Services Center (ALS-LSC), Ateneo de Manila Law Alumni
Association, Inc. (ALAAI), Santuario de San Antonio Parish (SDSAP) on
August 23, 2011 at the Ateneo de Manila University, Rockwell, Makati City.
K.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN PAO AND CBCP
A MOA was signed by the Public Attorney’s Office and the Media Office of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), relative to the
program “Batas ng Bayan,” information-education-communication modules for
free legal education and awareness for its audience here and abroad on August
15, 2011 at the PAO-Central Office, Quezon City.
L.
DRAFTING/REVISION OF PAO STANDARD OFFICE PROCEDURE/
GUIDELINES
The Chief Public Attorney directed the Regional Public Attorneys and other
PAO officials to meet and formulate the “PAO Revised Standard Procedure in
Mediation and Conciliation” which, as mentioned in this Report’s Prefatory
Statement, is in consonance with PDP 2011-2016, which encourages and
zealously promotes, among other advocacies, the use of ADR (Chapter 7Good Governance). The said activity was conducted from June 30 to July 5,
2011 in Quezon City.
This was followed by another meeting by the said PAO officials from
September 10 to 17, 2011, to draft three (3) more guidelines, to wit:
1. Revised Standard Office Procedure in Extending Legal Assistance
During Custodial Investigation and Inquest Proceedings;
2. Standard Operating Procedure During Visitation in Jails and
Holding Centers; and
3. Standard Operating Procedure in the Conduct of Barangay Legal
Information Dissemination and Outreach Program.
20
The said procedures contain four (4) programs of the PAO, which have been
conducted since the time of the very first Chief Public Attorney, Hon. Reynold
S. Fajardo. The same have been revised to become more appropriate to the
present needs of PAO clients and the demands of the fast changing times
which affect the work of PAO. (These guidelines became the PAO’s first four
(4) Memorandum Circulars (MCs) in 2012; all signed by the Chief Public
Attorney last January 4, 2012.).
M.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN PAO AND LMP
In connection with the request of the Honorable Strike B. Revilla, Mayor of
Bacoor, Cavite and National President of the League of Municipalities of the
Philippines (LMP), on behalf of the LMP, to have a Memorandum of
Agreement with the PAO, such agreement was signed on June 30, 2011 in
Quezon City. By virtue of this MOA, the PAO will provide and extend its free
legal assistance and court representation, subject to R.A. No. 9406, rules and
regulations, to qualified constituents of any member municipalities of the
League;
N.
PAO-BJMP COOPERATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INMATES
In view of the request of Chief Persida V. Rueda-Acosta on May 16, 2011 to
BJMP Director Rosendo M. Dial to inform the PAO-Central Office or the
nearest PAO district office under the following circumstances:
a.
Whenever the inmates under the custody of jails and penal institutions
under the BJMP suffer health emergencies or require hospitalization, for the
filing by the PAO of appropriate motions for proper treatment and
hospitalization of said inmates to the nearest private or government hospital, as
the case may be;
Whenever based on existing records, an inmate has not yet been
arraigned for or more than a month since being arrested and/or has been
preventively imprisoned pursuant to an order of commitment by the court, for
the filing by the PAO of appropriate motions to set case for arraignment;
b.
c.
Whenever an inmate has been overstaying for having served the
maximum penalty imposable upon him, for appropriate filing by the PAO of
motions for release pursuant to Article 29 of the Revised Penal Code,
Director Dial has issued a directive to all BJMP Regional Directors throughout
the Philippines for the proper observance and strict compliance of the said
request.
O.
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION ON MUSLIM FILIPINOS
The Memorandum of Agreement pertains to the establishment of a youth
paralegal program for the various Muslim Filipino communities in the country to
be known as the Muslim Community Youth Paralegal Program.
21
The parties to this MOA are: 1. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; 2.
Department of Interior and Local Government; 3. Department of Justice; 4.
Commission on Human Rights; 5. Public Attorney’s Office; 6. National
Prosecution Service; 7. Ateneo Human Rights Center; and, 8. Institute of Islamic
Studies, University of the Philippines. In this MOA, the PAO commits to
“provide materials and resource persons for the ‘Rights of the Accused’ topic” and
“facilitate the internship of trainees” at PAO.
This MOA was signed by the abovementioned parties on April 15, 2011 at the
Sulo Hotel, Quezon City.
VII. THE CENTRAL OFFICE
A. CREATION OF THE PAO CHOIR
The PAO Choir was formed in July 2011. It is composed of 34 employees
from the different services/sections of the Central Office. Soothing and inspiring
melodies in pleasing harmony have been performed by the PAO Choir during flag
ceremony and other official programs of the Office, as it religiously renders the
Philippine National Anthem, PAO Hymn and other patriotic songs as well as wellloved Filipino ditties in the said activities.
VIII. THE REGIONAL/DISTRICT OFFICES
A. TYPHOON SENDONG VICTIMS AND RELATIVE ASSISTANCE BY
PAO-NORTHERN MINDANAO REGION
On December 22, 23, 26-29, 2011, a total number of 1,884 victims of typhoon
Sendong were given legal assistance and 3,967 documents (e.g., affidavits of loss)
were made in favor of the said clients by the PAO in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan
City at the evacuation centers therein.
This is in connection with PAO Memorandum Order No. 293, Series of 2011,
issued by the Chief Public Attorney on December 19, 2011.
B. HOSTAGE TAKING INCIDENT AND RELATIVE ASSISTANCE BY
PAO-SAN JOSE, ANTIQUE DISTRICT OFFICE
Atty. Antonio Alcantara, Public Attorney III/OIC of PAO-San Jose, Antique
District Office was commended by DILG Secretary, the Honorable Jesse M.
Robredo on September 7, 2011, for his “exemplary action which resulted in the
peaceful settlement of the hostage taking incident inside the San Jose District Jail,
Municipality of San Jose, Province of Antique on August 25, 2011” (Secretary
Robredo’s letter-commendation dated September 7, 2011).
Atty. Alcantara volunteered to negotiate with the hostage-takers. This led to the
peaceful surrender of the hostage-takers.
C. HOSTAGE TAKING INCIDENT AND RELATIVE ASSISTANCE BY
PAO-PATIN-AY, PROSPERIDAD DISTRICT OFFICE
22
Atty. Marcelo R. Caupayan, Jr., Public Attorney III/District Public Attorney of
PAO-Patin-ay, Properidad, Agusan del Sur District Office, exercised with tenacity
and patience when he performed his role as one of the members of the Crisis
Management Committee, in relation to the successful resolution of a hostage-taking
incident in April 2011 in Agusan del Sur.
IX. ADMINISTRATIVE CONCERNS
The PAO, in the delivery of its mandated mission, is complemented by several
administrative units, which render support role to its technical operations. For the
period covering January to December 2011, the said units managed to carry out
their respective functions / operations with utmost efficiency and dedication.
A. HUMAN RESOURCES
1. PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT
The table below shows the number of authorized, filled, and unfilled positions
in the PAO, to wit:
Lawyers
Support Personnel
Total
Authorized
1,536
1,025
2,561
Filled
1,533
1,025
2,558
Unfilled
3
0
3
2. PERSONNEL MOVEMENT
While recruitment is high, the turn-over of PAO personnel especially its
lawyers is likewise fast due primarily to these reasons: searching for greener pastures,
hence their decision to engage in private practice, and transferring to other
government agencies where the workload is lighter. Promotions of PAO personnel
are equally high due to the recognition of the employees’ dedication and commitment
to their respective assigned jobs.
The movement of personnel in the PAO is shown here below:
Recruited
Promoted
Lawyer
217
301
Support Staff
50
68
Total
267
369
3. PERSONNEL ENHANCEMENT
The PAO has conducted series of seminars to enhance the capability,
knowledge and professional skills of participants in order to mold them into efficient
and truly competitive legal counsels and public servants.
It has been the practice of the Office to provide continuous seminars and
trainings to its personnel specifically lawyers to keep them abreast with the recent
development in law and jurisprudence. Thus, ensuring the efficiency and capability of
the public attorneys in protecting the rights of the oppressed and indigents.
Aside from trainings and seminars conducted by the office, lawyers and
support personnel from the PAO have likewise attended other trainings, seminars,
23
workshops and conferences upon invitation of other government and nongovernment organizations.
From January up to December 2011, there were about 77 seminars that were
attended by PAO personnel. The registered attendance thereto of public attorneys
was 1,723 and 58 for the support staff.
B.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
The approved appropriation for the Office for the year 2011 is Php
1,270,681,000.00 of which Php 1,267,681,000.00 was released. SARO releases
amounted to Php 330,420,505.00 intended to cover funding for SSL 2 and 3,
Productivity Enhancement Incentive, and salaries of newly created positions. The
amount of Php 11,938,861.00 was also released for the Terminal Leave benefits of
retired employees. Total obligations for FY 2011 amounted to Php 1,610,040,262.00.
C.
LIBRARY SERVICES
The PAO, through its library services, envisions giving better and more
efficient means of assisting its clientele, the PAO lawyers, through modern and
advance information-assisted technology such as the Internet, modern fax machines,
and telephone units for a fast transmission of output.
From January to December of 2011, a total of 1,039 copies of legal books and
reference materials were purchased and distributed to all PAO regional and district
offices nationwide. Likewise, the Office has an annual Lex Libris Bulletin yearly
subscription of compilation of laws, jurisprudence circulars, memoranda, etc., in a
compact disc (CD) supplied by CD Technologies Asia Inc. for the use of the PAOCentral Office as well as its regional offices throughout the country. This includes
thirteen (13) compact discs of various subject to wit:
1. Philippine Law Encyclopedia 2011
2. Laws Bulletins 2011.3
3. Jurisprudence 1901-2010
4. Jurisprudence Bulletins 2011.3
5. Local Autonomy & Local Government 2010
6. Department of Justice 2010
7. Labor and Social Legislation 2010
8. Environment and Natural Resources 2008
9. Trade, Commerce and Industry 2008
10.National Administrative Register 2010
11.Education Law and the Private Schools
12.Family Law
13.Philippine Judicial and Legal Forms
For the same period, the PAO Library, through its personnel, was able to collate
a total of 493 news releases from fourteen (13) various broadsheets and tabloids
which include, among others, the following:
 The jail visitations conducted by the Public Attorney’s Office in various jails in
Marikina, Binangonan, Taytay, San Mateo, Morong, Antipolo, Tanay, Baguio
24
City, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Calamba, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Pasig, Quezon City,
Manila, Pasay, Muntinlupa, and National Bilibid Prison.
 The 13th Annual Convention of Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines with the theme “Living up to the Standards of Integrity and
Competence in the Legal Profession”, held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and
Convention Center, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City, from April 7 to
9, 2011.
 The cases of M/V Princess of the Stars that sank on June 21, 2008 in
Romblon. PAO is the legal counsel of the relatives of the victims.
 The Vizconde Massacre case. Chief Public Attorney Persida V. Rueda-Acosta
and some public attorneys assisted Mr. Lauro Vizconde in filing a Motion for
Reconsideration seeking a “re-deliberation of the high tribunal’s ruling” issued
on December14, 2010.
 The hostage-taking incident in Agusan del Sur on April 1, 2011. The Chief
Public Attorney and Atty. Marcelo R. Caupayan, Jr. had exercised the tenacity
and patience to work closely with the Crisis Management Committee.
 The launching of Youth Paralegal Program for Muslim Filipinos at the Sulo
Hotel in Quezon City by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos
(NCMF). The program formally known as the Muslim Community Youth
Paralegal Program (MCYPP) is projected to be implemented in partnership
with the National Prosecution Service; the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO); the
Commission on human Rights (CHR); the Ateneo Human Rights Center; and
the Institute on Islamic Studies of the UP Diliman, Quezon City. The
program was designed to respond to the needs of Muslim Filipino
communities to avail of legal assistance.
 The “Living Positively Award” given to the Chief Public Attorney Persida V.
Rueda-Acosta for embodying the ideals of women empowerment and
espousing “Living Positively” advocacy campaign given by the Coca Cola
Export Corporation and the Woman Today at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay
City on May 2011.
 The opening of PAO-Plaridel Bulacan District Office led by Chief Public
Attorney Persida V. Rueda-Acosta and Plaridel Mayor Anastacia Tessie Vistan
to provide free legal services to Bulakenyos on May 2011.
 The signing of Memorandum of Agreement between Ateneo Law School
Legal Services Center (ALS-LSC) and Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc.
(ALAAI) and Public Attorney’s Office on August 23, 2011 as part of the
celebration of the School’s 75th anniversary. The project aims to help facilitate
the documentation and disposition of cases involving indigent inmates at the
Makati City Jail. Under the agreement, PAO shall be responsible for the
smooth coordination with the BJMP for the determination and identification
of inmates who are under the custody of BJMP and are qualified for legal
assistance.
25
 The “Honor Roll Award” given to the Chief Public Attorney Persida V.
Rueda-Acosta by the UE College of Law marking UE’s 65th Foundation
Anniversary on September 30, 2011 at Century Park Hotel.
 The release of the four abducted BJMP personnel to Chief Persida V. RuedaAcosta and Gov. Lala Taliño Mendoza on October 8, 2011 in North
Cotabato.
 The Special Citation for Public Service Program “Public Atorni” given by the
Catholic Mass Media Awards on October 19, 2011.
 The “Outstanding Public Servant” award given to Chief Acosta by the Gawad
Amerika Annual Awards on November 5, 2011 at Celebrity Centre
Foundation Hollywood, California.
 The “Achievement in Public Service” award given to Chief Acosta by the
FAMAS during its Gabi ng Parangal held at the Tanghalang Leandro Locsin
Theater at the NCCA on December 10, 2011.
 The “Fourth Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Accredited (MCLE)
National Convention of Public Attorneys” at the historic landmark, Manila
Hotel on December 12-16, 2011.
Through its tri-media linkages the PAO has continuously been rendering legal
advice to the general public through the “Say Mo Attorney?” column in People’s
Tonight tabloid, released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; daily column
“Dear PAO” in Manila Times and “Magtanong kay Attorney” in the Bulgar. A total
of 149 articles in “Say Mo Attorney?” , 359 articles in “Dear PAO” and 361 articles
in “Magtanong kay Attorney” were published and clipped into their respective files.
In March 2011, the Chief Public Attorney opened a column entitled “Atorni First” in
Pinoy Parazzi, wherein a total of 72 articles had been published as of December
2011.
D. OFFICE EQUIPMENT
For the period covering January to December 2011, the following office
equipment were purchased, to wit:












Air conditioner
Computer Monitor
Computer Printer
Desktop Computer
Laptop Computer
Biometric Time Recorder
Fax Machine
Filing Cabinet
Steel Filing Cabinet and Index Card Cabinet
Office Chair
Executive Chair
Swivel
Tables
Computer (CPU, monitor & accessories) and Table
(Note: These 460 units of computers were purchased
-
9
3
14
3
1
31
1
42
19
units
units
units
unit
unit
units
unit
units
units
-
15
24
16
475
units
units
units
pcs
26
from the DBM Procurement Service in 2010 but were
delivered only in 2011)






LCD TV w/ DVD player
Two-way Radio
Electric Typewriter
Safety Vault
Boom Microphone & Microphone Stand
Dry Seal
-
7
10
2
1
1
50
units
pcs
units
unit
pc
pcs
Since her assumption into office, it has been the battle cry of the Chief Public
Attorney to put into oblivion the traditional impression with public offices where
there is a dearth of office supply and obsolete and/or worn out office equipment are
in place. With the purchase of the foregoing office furnishings, such as chairs, filing
cabinets, computer tables, scanners, computers, and posture chairs, PAO personnel
were able to perform their duties in a more office-friendly environment. Needless to
say, it somehow contributed to the continuously swelling public trust to the services of
the PAO.
In addition, the computerization program of the office saw the continuous
upgrading of existing computer units in order to cope up with the fast changing times
and technology.
X. TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
A. PAO-NLRC SUB-STATION
By virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Public
Attorney’s Office and the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) located at
Banawe in Quezon City, the PAO maintains its sub-station at the NLRC to serve its
clients.
The sub-station facilitates the rendition of legal assistance to complaining
workers before the NLRC and aims to expedite the proceedings. Hence, it makes its
services more accessible to these workers.
The efficiency of the office has been proven for years. For the period covering
January to December 2011, a total of 5,776 clients were accommodated and given
legal assistance.
B.
RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION
From January to December of 2011, the PAO, through the Legal Research
Service, had a total number of 1,916 research works that were duly accomplished.
Out of 134 research works, 126 of them were published in newspapers of national
circulation. It included legal queries from the public which were either directly
addressed or referred to the PAO. The sudden upsurge in the number of research
works was brought about by the increasing public trust coupled with consistent trimedia linkages as means of education and information dissemination of the PAO.
The accessibility of the Chief Public Attorney herself for public services has, for one
reason, made a great difference.
27
C.
INTENSIFYING INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
Aside from its linkage to print media for public education and information
dissemination, the PAO has also cooperated with the broadcast media (radio and
television) to strengthen and sustain its legal services operations.
Toward this end, public attorneys continuously provide on-the-air legal
counseling on DZIQ Radyo Inquirer (Kakampi Ko Ang Batas), DZRV (Radio
Veritas), Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), DWIZ (Hustisya Para sa Lahat),
DWDD-AFP (Ugnayan ng Anghel ng Masa), GMA 7 (Imbestigador and Unang
Hirit), DZMM, ABS-CBN 2 (Aksyon Ngayon, Exklusibong Explosibong Expose
(XXX), Umagang Kay Ganda, DZRH, DZRV (Radyo ng Bayan), DZBB (Oro
Mismo), TV 5 (Face to Face) and other radio and television stations. The same
activity is also undertaken by selected and duly authorized public attorneys in the
different regions.
D. ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS AGAINST PAO EMPLOYEES
From January up to December 2011, a total of 197 administrative complaints
and 9 formal administrative charges were received and 68 cases involving
administrative complaints and charges were resolved and terminated through the
PAO-Legal Research Service.
The PAO, through the fortitude of its Chief Public Attorney, has been trying to
uphold the integrity not only of the agency but of each lawyer and support staff
appointed in the office.
XI.
ISSUES AND CONCERNS
A. FAST TURNOVER OF PAO LAWYERS
The high turnover rate of PAO lawyers is primarily due to the following
reasons:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Resignation to engage in private law practice;
Transfer to the National Prosecution Service (NAPROSS);
Transfer to the judiciary;
Transfer to other government owned and controlled corporations; and
Heavy workload;
No attractive retirement benefits.
Due to heavy workload and absence of attractive retirement benefits, the PAO
has difficulty in maintaining public attorneys in its fold for a long time. However, the
recent upgrading of salary grades for lawyers in the agency pursuant to R.A. 9406,
could somehow help PAO in retaining most of its lawyers in the service until
retirement age, more or less.
B. HEAVY WORKLOAD
On the average, a public attorney is assigned to at least two (2) courts while a
prosecutor or at times two prosecutors are assigned only to one (1) court. The PAO
has only 1,536 authorized plantilla positions for lawyers which include the positions
28
of the Chief Public Attorney, the two (2) Deputy Chief Public Attorneys, Service
Heads, the 17 Regional Public Attorneys and public attorneys assigned in the Central
Office. The total number of plantilla positions for lawyers are not enough to cover
every court in the Philippines.
It is also worthy to mention that aside from handling criminal and civil cases,
public attorneys are likewise mandated to handle: (1) preliminary investigation of
cases before the Office of the Public Prosecutor; (2) labor cases before the National
Labor Relations Commission; (3) administrative cases before administrative bodies
like DARAB, PRC, COMELEC, Bureau of Customs, DECS, PLEB, Insurance
Commission, POEA, SSS, etc.
Yet the PAO for the period of January up to December 2011 managed to
handle a total of 680,858 cases involving about 5,835,027clients. These figures show
that every public attorney handled an average of 470 cases and rendered assistance to
an average of 3,806 clients for the same period.
C. NEED FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Despite procurement of some office furnishings, such as chair, filing cabinets,
computer tables, scanners, computers, and posture chairs, the PAO still needs
additional computers which are necessary in the immediate preparation and
submission of pleadings with the courts and other quasi-judicial bodies which
contributes to the improvement of the delivery of service to the clients.
XII. PLANS AND PROGRAMS
A. PRIORITY FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS
(IN ACCORDANCE WITH DOJ DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
BUDGET MATRIX 2012-2016)
1. Increase access to justice especially by the poor and vulnerable groups
a) Creation of additional district offices in all municipalities subject to
continuous creation of plantilla positions by the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) per RA 9406 and MOA of LMP and PAO;
b) Enhancement of barangay legal information and legal rights dissemination
outreach activities
c) Continuous procurement of biometrics bundy clock system for the
remaining regional and district offices which are not yet equipped with the same.
2. Strengthen alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
a) Continuous enhancement of Mediation and Conciliation or ADR
mechanisms
(Note: Cases being mediated and those cases which have not yet been
filed in court or the NPS or other quasi-judicial bodies)
3. Improve systems and processes through information and communication
technology (ICT)
a) synchronization of connectivity of central and field offices
b) continuous procurement of computers subject to allocation by the DBM
c) installation of case management and tracking system
29
B. 2012 CONTINUING PLANS AND PROGRAMS
1. Launching of PAO Manuals and trainings related thereto, of public
attorneys to be sponsored by the American Bar Association-Rule of Law Initiative
(ABA-ROLI);
2. Continue the compliance with ISO 9000 and the Government Quality
Management Systems Standards (GQMSS), pursuant to Administrative Order No.
161 dated October 5, 2006;
3. Maintain and upgrade the PAO Forensic Laboratory for the furtherance of
investigation being conducted relative to cases handled by this Office, pursuant to
Republic Act 9745 (Anti-Torture Act of 2009), Republic Act No. 9262 (AntiViolence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, Republic Act 8353 (AntiRape Law) and other existing laws mandating the PAO to assist the victims or
accused on a first come-first served basis;
4. Open a Medical and Dental Clinic at the PAO-Central Office for the health
benefit of its employees;
5. Enhance the talents and skills of the members of the PAO Choir as a
creative channel of PAO employees who are musically inclined;
6. Continuously carry out activities and outreach programs for the welfare of
prisoners and inmates such as the PAO’s free Legal and Medical Jail Visitation and
Decongestion Program;
7. Continue the “PAO-UNICEF Seminar on Violence Against Women and
their Children Act (R.A. 9262), Comprehensive Juvenile Justice and Welfare System
Act (R.A. 9344) and Other Related Laws” under the revised training modules;
8. Continue the “PAO’s Advanced Training/Workshop in Forensic Medicine
and Science” pursuant to DOJ Memorandum Circular No. 1, dated January 7, 2008,
as part of manpower capacity building;
9. Continue the promotion of good governance, professionalism, and anticorruption measures;
10. Continue improving communication facilities and other office equipment;
11. Continue the organization, establishment and maintenance of database,
case management, and monitoring system for all cases handled by PAO nationwide;
12. Exert vigorous efforts to implement compensation scheme and financial
incentives of the PAO lawyers to further motivate them in discharging their duties
pursuant to R.A. No. 9406 (PAO Law);
13. Continuous capacity building, enhancement of the skills and competence
of PAO lawyers and staff through the holding of workshops and seminars;
30
14. Increase the number of lawyers and support staff assigned in each of the
Regional and District Offices for a more effective and efficient delivery of services
pursuant to the PAO Law;
15. Continue coordinating with the tri-media for the advancement of the PAO
outreach activities, more particularly, dissemination of free legal advice, counseling,
and mediation;
16. Vigorously pursue the rendition of prompt, effective and adequate access
to justice and legal services to the indigent sector;
17. Maintain programs and policies in achieving virtues of excellence, integrity,
professionalism and moral values of all PAO lawyers and staff;
18. Endeavor to meet the ideal situation of one PAO lawyer being assigned to
one court for a more effective and efficient representation of clients;
19. Empowerment of the PAO’s capacity in promoting Gender and
Development (GAD) Program of the government;
20. Continue the active participation of the PAO in the on-going anticorruption, pro-poor and social justice programs of the Aquino administration; and
21. Continue the cooperation with the courts in case decongestion program.
PERSIDA V. RUEDA-ACOSTA
Chief Public Attorney
31