Law enacted to provide free legal aid for military personnel and police forces

New Law Provides Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel in the Philippines

In a significant move to support the legal needs of military and uniformed personnel, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12177. This law, effective immediately, offers free legal assistance to officers and personnel under various agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, among others.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which oversees all the mentioned agencies except the AFP, welcomed the signing of the new law. The DILG believes that this law will allow police, fire, and jail personnel to perform their duties with greater focus and confidence, free from the fear of harassment through baseless or unwarranted cases.

The new law establishes a mechanism for military and uniformed personnel to access free legal assistance. While the exact name or type of the organization offering this support is not yet clear, it is intended to provide institutional support whenever personnel face service-related cases. This assistance covers proceedings of military and uniformed personnel who face criminal, civil, or administrative cases in relation to their performance of official duties.

Interestingly, representatives from PAO, the Office of the Solicitor General, and Integrated Bar of the Philippines suggested improving the legal offices of MUP agencies instead of creating a new system for free legal assistance. Human rights lawyer Ted Te also stated that a law cannot require lawyers to render free legal assistance to law enforcers, as the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) already provides free legal services to Filipinos.

However, apart from the PAO, there are legal organizations that handle public interest cases, such as the Free Legal Assistance Group and the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers. These organizations may also offer assistance to military and uniformed personnel under certain circumstances.

Notably, the new law also covers retired and honorably discharged and separated personnel if the allegations in question were committed while they were on active duty. This provision aims to ensure that these individuals receive the support they need when facing legal issues related to their service.

In summary, Republic Act No. 12177 is a significant step towards supporting the legal needs of military and uniformed personnel in the Philippines. The new law provides free legal assistance to officers and personnel under various agencies and aims to ensure that institutional support is readily available whenever these individuals face service-related cases.