Kuwalipikasyon para makakuha ng libreng serbisyo sa PAO

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | February 21, 2021

Ang Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) ay mayroong mandatong magbigay ng libreng serbisyong legal sa mahihirap (indigents), at sa iba pang kuwalipikadong tao, sa lahat ng kasong civil, criminal, labor, administrative at ng iba pang quasi-judicial cases kung saan matapos ang masusing pag-aaral ay makikitang ang representasyon ay patungo sa interes ng hustisya.

Tungkol sa mga katanungan para makakuha ng serbisyo ng PAO, aming ipinababatid ang mga alituntunin para makakuha ng serbisyo ng PAO. Ang mga sumusunod ang batayan para ang mamamayan ay makakuha ng libreng serbisyo ng PAO.

Kailangan na kayo ay pumasa sa merit at indigency tests. Nakapaloob ito sa circular ng aming opisina na pinamagatang Memorandum Circular No. 18, Series of 2002 na inamyendahan ng Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2010. Nakasaad sa mga nabanggit na Memorandum Circulars ang mga sumusunod:

“Sec. 2. Merit Test. – A case shall be considered meritorious if an assessment of the law and evidence on hand discloses that the legal services of the office will assist, or be in aid of or in the furtherance of justice, taking into consideration the interests of the party and those of society. In such cases, the PAO lawyer should agree to represent the party concerned. A contrario, a case is deemed unmeritorious if it appears that it has no chance of success, or is intended merely to harass or injure the opposite party or to work oppression or wrong. In such situation the PAO lawyer must decline the case.

Sec. 3. Indigency Test. – Taking into consideration recent surveys on the amount needed by an average Filipino family to (a) buy its “food consumption basket” and (b) pay for its household and personal expenses, the following applicant shall be considered as an indigent person:

1. If residing in Metro Manila, whose net income does not exceed Php14, 000 a month;

2. If residing in other cities, whose net income does not exceed Php13, 000 a month;

3. If residing in other places, whose net income does not exceed Php 12,000 a month.”

Kung kayo ay kuwalipikado para makakuha ng libreng serbisyo ng PAO sang-ayon sa mga nailahad na pamantayan, maaari kayong magtungo sa pinakamalapit na opisina ng PAO sa lugar kung saan kayo nakatira. Mangyaring magdala kayo ng dokumentong magpapatunay na kayo ay indigent. Alinman sa mga dokumentong ito ay maaari ninyong ipakita:

1)Latest Income Tax Return;

2. Certificate of Indigency from the DSWD having jurisdiction over the

residence of the applicant; or

3. Certificate of Indigency from the Barangay Chairman having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant.