Public Attorneys

Office
Bundalian
Cabochan

Consolacion
De Jesus

Reyes, P.
Rosales

Mission

free legal representation, assistance and

counselling to indigent persons in criminal, civil,
labor, and administrative cases

To provide

Free access to the courts and quasi-judicial

bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not
be denied to any person by reason of poverty
(SEC.

11,

ARTICLE

OF

THE

1987

PHILIPPINE

CONSTITUTION)

Vision

The PAO envisions a God-centered,

service-oriented
and
dynamic
institution that would be the center of
excellence as the principal law office of
the government in extending free legal
assistance to indigents led by highly
competent, world-class, development
oriented and nationalistic leaders.

The PAO
adheres to the
following
objectives and
thrust:

To provide the indigent clients with free legal

services
To fulfil the constitutional guarantee of free
access to courts, due process and equal
protection of the law and rights of a person
under investigation for an alleged commission
of an offense.

Organizatio
nal
Structure of
PAO

Head Office in NIA Road, Quezon City : Largest

contingent of PAO Lawyers are located

Organizatio
nal
Structure of
PAO

PAO Office in Manila City: 2nd largest contingent of PAO

Lawyers (approx. 53 lawyers in one office)
Chief Public Attorney: Dr. Persida V. Rueda-Acosta
Deputy Public Attorney(s): Atty. Silvestre A. Mosing and
Atty. Macapangcat A. Mama

Organizatio
nal
Structure of
PAO

When does the

PAO represent a
party?
The Merit Test

The Merit
Test

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 the society.

WHAT IF

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.

Hmmmmm

May a Public Attorney represent an indigent

client even if his cause of action is adverse to a
public officer, government office, agency or
instrumentality?
Provided the case is meritorious

What if the
accused is a
criminal?

In criminal cases, the accused enjoys the

constitutional presumption of innocence
until the contrary is proven. Hence, cases
of defendants in criminal actions are
considered meritorious.

1. Those residing in Metro Manila whose family

income does not exceed P14,000.00 a month;

So when
can I be
considered
as an
indigent?

2. Those residing in other cities whose family

income does not exceed P13,000.00 a month;
and
3. Those residing in all other places whose
family income does not exceed P12,000.00 a
month.

What do you mean

by family
income?
Dapat ba kung pagsasama-samahin ang kita
namin sa pamilya hindi kami umabot sa kadabuwan na kita?

 The term family income shall be

understood to refer to the gross income of
the litigant and that of his or her spouse,
but shall not include the income of the
other members of the family.

What if I own a parcel

of land, am I
disqualified as an
indigent?

 Not necessarily. For purposes of

determining the indigency of an applicant,
ownership of land shall not per se
constitute a ground for disqualification for
free legal assistance.

Common
Misconceptions
about the Public
Attorneys Office

Examples
of Cases
Taken

Free Legal Representation and Counselling to

INDIGENT PERSONS in:
Inquest
R & C to suspected offenders during inquest
proceedings

Labor
R & C to illegally dismissed employees in cases in
NLRC

Criminal
R & C to a suspected drug offender on petition for
bail

Civil
R & C to a child/children in need of child support
from parents

Administrative

Alarms
and
Scandals

PAO takes all kinds of cases:

The Empty Can of

Sardines

Case
Against
Pres.
Duterte

EJK of
Drug
Related
Offenders

Atty. Jazz fervently and vigorously fought for the

bail of the suspected drug offender. They won.
The offender got bailed. In less than two weeks
after they got the bail, the wife of the suspected
drug offender called Atty. Jazz -

Wala na po siya.