Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
RepubEko ng PlfipinosKogoworon ng f,otorungon
Tonggopon ng lllonononggolPomboyon(PUBLrc ATTORNEYS OFFTGE)
DOJ &€ncEs &rkhg, NIA Rd co. Easl Ave tlMD man, Q.€2on Crly
Teledtone l{06 92CS10A2CA4S, FAX llos 9276&1U 926-2&78
ACCOMPLISHMENT REPOR'IOF THE PUBTIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
FOR THE YEAR 2OL7
PREFATORY STATEMENT
Hailed as the biggest and principal law office of the governmentin extending free legal assistance to indigent persons and otherqualified clients, the Public Attorney's ffice (PAO) has become ahousehold name to immediate and effective free legal service toeveryone who sought its assistance.
Ordained by law to aid the weak, to be the voice of the meek,to uphold the cause of the destitute, to protect the defenseless, andto provide justice to the oppressed and other qualified clients, thePAO has been the sword and shield against abuse, inequity andpersecution. True to its vision, the PAO not only provides free legalaid and services but also endeavors to empower the Filipino peopleespecially the less foftunate in life and in law. Sacred is the duty ofthe PAO to ensure that there be no denial ofjustice, no transgressionof constitutional rights, and no disregard of the law and establisheddoctrines.
Accustomed to the developments and demands of the changingtimes, the PAO thrives in adversity and readily accepts momentouschallenges. Its modest workforce of two thousand nine hundredeighty-nine (2,989) employees are all industrious, adept, anddedicated to serue with utmost professionalism, integrity andefficiency. Such devotion to the profession and selfless love forcountry emanates from paragon of a public servant.
Through the years, the Filipino people are becoming moreaware that the PAO's free legal service is not only for theaccused/respondent but extends to all qualified victims of injustice.Noteworthy is the PAO's legal assistance to the families of Kian LoydDelos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman, andMichael Angelo Remecio who were killed in police operations. Withthe help of the PAO Forensic Team, headed by Atty. Enruin P. Erfe,M.D., Director of the PAO Forensic Laboratory, the PAO was able tobuild up and strengthen its cases against the police officers who areresponsible for their senseless killings.
q(PAO ACCOMPUSHMENT REPORT FORTTM YEAR 2OT5 Page I of 41
Moreover, the PAO once again enriched Philippinejurisprudence through the case ofEstipona v. Hon. Lobigo andPeople, G.R. No. 226679, 15 August 2012 the PAO representing thepetitioner therein, wherein the Supreme Court declared Section 23 ofRepublic Act (R.A.) No. 9165, othenalse known as the ComprehensiveDangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which prohibits plea bargaining for alldrug offenses, as unconstitutional for being contrary to the SupremeCourfs rule making authority as stated in Section 5(5), Article VIIIthe 1987 Constitution.
The public attorneys' dedication to stay with the PAO untilretirement was also duly rewarded and appreciated when the QuezonCity Regional Trial Court, Branch 230, in its Decision dated 14February 2017, nullified the Department of Budget andManagement's (DBM) Legal Seruices Opinion No. 14, issued on 6November 2015, and directed the DBM to cause the immediaterelease of the retirement benefits of the PAO retirees in accordancewith DBM and GSIS loint Circular No. 2013-1 and Budget Circular No.2013-1, in relation to Republic Act No. 9406 or the PAO Law andRepublic Act No. 10071 or the NAPROSS (National ProsecutionSeruice) Law. As aptly stated in the said Decision
"Much has been said about dichotomy betweenbeing a public attorney and a public prosecutor failing torealize that they are both vital and signiflcant actors inthe administration of justice, without whose activeparticipation, no final and conclusive redress ofgrievances can be made. In their long hours of toil,dedication and hard work to give true meaning to theterm 'public servants' lies their equality and congruencefor which they should be amply rewarded and recognized.After honorably serving office for a great number ofyears, public servants, as herein Petitioners PAO retirees,should comfortably enjoy their retirement in the relativesecurity of a regular monthly pension and should not bedenied benefit and left without means of sustenance. Aperceived ambiguity or uncertainty in the application ofthe law should not serve to deny them such recognitionand reward. Public Attorneys retirees deserue to beprovided the wherewithal to live a life of relative comfort,dignity and security after years of honorable seryice inthe govemment."
Finally, to cope with the increasing requests for legal assistanceand aid of indigent litigants, the PAO has continuously hired new anpromising lawyers, with the end view of attaining the ideal publattorney to court ratio of 1:1. Furthermore, in its continuous effort to
PAO ACCOMPUSHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 2/6fl I
improve its services, the PAO has also organized and held capacitybuilding trainings and seminars for its public attorneys for them to bekept abreast with recent laws and jurisprudence. In fact, the PAO hassuccessfully concluded tne fr Mandatory Continuing Legal Education(MCIE) Accredited National Convention of Public Attomeys, and thesame was attended and graced by the presence of no less than thePresident of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Dutefte.
Despite the challenges encountered in the year 2017, the PAOhas strived to fulfill its mandate of extending free legal assisbnce toindigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and otherquasi-judicial cases. For the year 2017, the PAO has extended freelegal services to eleven million six hundred sixteen thousandnine hundred sixteen (11,616,916) clients and handled ninehundred six thousand two hundred fifty-one (9061251) cases,with 76.130lo favorable dispositions. This is an attestation thatdespite the PAO's limited resources and workforce, it can handle itscases with utmost diligence and competence.
Under the tutelage of the indefatigable men and women of theffice, the Filipino people will be assured that the pAO will always bethere for everyone who need its assistance in full accord with theConstitutional provision that "fflree access to the cour9 and quasi-judr:cial bodies and adequate legal assistance shail not be denied toany petwn by reason of poverty."
I THE OFFICE
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9406, entitled "An Act Reorganizing andStrengthening the Public Attorney's ffice (pAO),, established thePAO as an independent and autonomous ffice attached to theDepartment of Justice only for the purpose of policy and programcoordination. The law expanded the mandate of the pAO to includeproviding free legal services and assistance to indigent clients, otherqualified persons, and in the exigency of the selvice, when calledupon by proper govemment authorities, to render such service toother persons, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, in allcriminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases.
The PAO-Central ffice is located at the DOJ AgenciesBuilding, NIA Road comer East Avenue, Diliman, euezon City. Theregional and district/sub-district offices, on the other hand, arestrategically located nationwide to effectively respond to indigenclients from eighty-one(81) provinces, one hundred and fofi(145) cities, one thousand and four hundred eighty-nine (1,4g
{/lraPAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR TIIE \TEAR 201? Page 3 o I
municipalities and forty-two thousand and thifi-six (42,036)barangaysl, all of which are in dire need of legal assistance.
Currently, the PAO has 17 regional ofEes and 3O9 districtoffices, five sub-district offices, two Regional Special andAppealed Cases Units (RSACU), two saEllib offies, and oneannex. Most of these offices are situated at the Halls of lusticenationwide along with the courts and other offices involved in theadministration of justice. However, some district offtces are housed atrented office spaces like the PAO-Manila District ffice, etc.
U. PUBLIC RNEYS, THE REG IONAL ANDDISTRICT OFFICES, AND TH COURTS
Despite the high turn-over rate of the Public Attorneys,primarily due to resignation to engage in private law practice,transfer to the National Prosecution Service (NAPROSS), to thejudiciary, or to other government agencies and govemment ownedand controlled corporations, and also due to heavy workload, amongothers, the PAO has a total of 2,fi)5 public attorneys, who activelyhandle criminal and civil cases before the courts nationwide.
About 7O of them devote themselves to special and appealedcases filed before the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court and theffice of the President. However, the handling of criminal and civilcases and representation of clients in courts as above-stated is only apoftion of the public attorneys' functions. They also appear in andhandle administrative and labor cases, the so-called quasi-judicialcases, and such other limited and special cases and services asshown hereafter.
Below is a table indicating the number of existing offices andned in each ion as follows:
l minpqine SAndad @raphk de (Kt),31 Decernber2017, ht@://tBp. Fa.gou. ph/xtit abUrydlisiq.$p
R.EGIONDrsTRrcT / suB-
DISTRICT OFFICES
NUMBER OFPUBTIC
ATTOR.NEYS
CentralOffice 111
National Capital Region 16 311
Cordillera AdministrativeRegion
19 / 2 sub-district 63
Region IIlocos Region
2t It2 Av
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR TI{E YEAR 2OI7M
,* nr
0
Page 4
Region IICaqayan Valley
Region IIICentral Luzon
32 / 1 annex L72
Region tV-ACAI.ABARZON
35 227
Region IV-BMIMAROPA
12llsatelliteoffice
Region VBicol Region
24 to7
Region VIEastern Visayas
2t t27
Region VIICentral Visayas
18 / 1 RSACU 130
Region VIIIWestern Visayas
25 102
Region IX-AARMM
3 / 1 sub-district 4t
Region IX-BZamboanga Peninsula
15/lsatelliteoffice 76
Region XNorthern Mindanao
15/lRSACU&2sub-district offices
97
Region XIDavao Region
74 65
Region XIISOCCSKSARGEN
77
Region XIIICARAGA
t2 49
TOTAL 319 200sTable No. 1
The establishment of district offices in different regions of thecountry complements the agency's mission to provide litigants freeaccess to courts and quasi-judicial agencies by rendering legalassistance without cost. The PAO envisions the establishment ofadequate district offices to enhance the accessibility of its seruices inorder that justice could efficiently be delivered despite geographicalfragmentation.
UI. SIGNIFICANT MPLISHMENTS
a CLIENTS ASSISTED AND CASES HANDLED
The statistical figures below show the total number of indigclients assisted and the total number of cases (judicial and q
t
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 age 5o{draI
15 83
55
t2
judicial) handled by the PAO and its proportionate relation to the2,OOS lauryers for the period covering January to December,2OlT.
Total No. of Clients Assisted 11,616,916Total No. of Cases Handled 906,251Average No. of Clients Assisted by Each Lawyer 5,794Average No. ofCases Handled by Each Lawyer 4s8
Table No. 2
o MAIOR EIilAL OUTPUT AND PERFORMANCEINDICATORS
In order to fully monitor the effective implementation of itsseruices and to obtain the feedbacks of its qualified clients, the PAO'speformance indicators were refined/enhanced to include thedetermination of the timeliness and quality of its services, instead ofmerely focusing on quantity.
For the year 2017, the implementation of the new indicatorsyielded positive results, to wit:
Maior Final OutouE Free Leoal Services to Indiqent Clientsand Other Oualified Persons.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FY 2017 TARGETSACCOMPLISHMENTS
(F,r20fll
Number of cases under management.
Percentage of cases with favorablejudSrnent.
Percentage of requests for legalassistance/representatftm acted uponwithin three working days from thedate of request.
Percentage of hearings for which nopos@nement is sor8ht by the PAOlegal representaWe.
PI Set 1:
a
73.41o/o(223,8121304,880)
100o/o(1,20t,58nJ,11,201,580)
99.90%(48'7,0W1487,4t6)
851,062
76.13o/o(2.0,109/315,401)
100%(1,2$,$211,246,462)
9).930/o(583,632584,055)
906,251
Number of clients served (Non-Judicial).
Number of legEladvisortss/counselling prwided.
PI Set 2:
ll
t,
4,995,530
1,924,397 3,488,
7,248,627
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FORTHE YEAR 2017 Page 6 of 4l
a
a
Percentage of clients who rated thelegal selices of the PAO assatisfactory or better.
Percentage of requests for assistancethat are acted upon within two hours.
99.Wo(5&4,74o156/.,808)
100%(2,341,M12,34L,46,/')
100o/o(630,561/630,561)
100%(2,4T1,936 | 2,477,936)
Table No. 3
a CLIENTS ASSISTED AND CASES HANDLED
Undaunted by the overwhelming caseload, the public attorneysably represented indigent clients who are accused in court. ThePublic Attomeys skillfully facilitated the release and favorabledisposition of cases of indigent clients, by way of acquittals, dismissalof cases, or for some other reasons, their cases were favorablydisposed of, as shown in the graph below.
ACQLITTALS/ DIS}trSSAL OF CASES/R.EI FASE FR.O:\IDETENTION/ JAILS AND OTEER FAI'ORABLE DISPOSITIONS
qr,om
44.168
41,351
40,om
lo,0m
2opd) - 16.
ro,oq)
2.745 :.q171,lt5
3_o 53 2ll 9A4 592 m7 6El 5r2 060 AECDEf
4.as
GHIJ,ao. dL. t.d len.fitcd
TLMiIOPq
aA. Acquirbla C. Motbi to quEh trrrtld! E. ProvirixEly dis issadIG- Probatin sr.rlt dr l- ffi.d hEr ar-da L C.i.r fi.d - orrt (Coirglirr-lt)I M. B.l ( or!-bli$h ofi.n!.)s O. OturEio. proecdinf{lntcrulntion9 O M dar um an poebh pr n.ty e rv.d
aa. Dis.nisd wah prlildia!O. O.tnurrrr to avltaie lrrrtadIf. Corwltcd to blE rofflneaH wo.reJ. DisriEGd <at b6cd on cdnplofi ia fRcrncntaL. DiEr is.d tl.9on&ntglll. k(ogndrn(!9P. Suipandad rantanca
Graph No. 1
The graph above shows the figures of acquittals, dismissals andother favorable dispositions in criminal cases for the period coveringJanuary to December 2017, totalling 161,138.
a WINNING APPEALED CASES
For criminal cases alone, a total of 19O aases were favoradisposed of during the period of January to December 201 the
PAO ACCOMPI,ISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 7
(cg 1t
PAO-Special and Appealed Cases Service (SAG) and the twoRegional Special and Appealed C-ases Unlts (RSACU).
The table below shows the breakdown of fi u to wit:Acquittals from Reclusion Temporal 85Acquittals from Reclusion Perpetua 105TOTAL 190
Table No. 4
JAII VISITATION AND DECONGESTIONPROGRAM
This non-judicial service rendered by the ffice for the inmateshas been strengthened by the PAo-Central ffice Legal, Medical,Dental and Optical Jail Visitation Program. The program started in
2007 and is now being continuously conducted in various jails in thePhilippines. The tables below show the output of the project for theyear 2017, to wit:
Regular Monthly Jail Visitation of District Offices Nationwide:
Table llo. 5
PAO-Central Office Legal & MedicalJai! Visitation & Decongestion Program
A btal of2,291
inmabswalt
rdGlcd
Wof 4l
No. of Inmates / DetaineesMonthly Iai! Visitation
of District OffioesNationwide
346,772
Provided Legal Representation in Couft 442,441
Released 48,339
TOTAL NO.OF INMATES
RELFASEDDATE LEG
NO. OFBENEFICXARIES
FOR LEGALASSISTATE
(ADvrcE)
NO. OFBEl{EFICIARIESFOR MEDICALASSISTANCT
NO. OFBENEFICIARIES
FOR DENTALASSISTArcE
VISITED JAIL
182 381
CdrectimalInst utbn tu
WmEr
t{ay m,2017
lr 157
Hay 19,20L7
2No 134 195 .a 1732 Tagui,g City Hall
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 8
Aside from criminal cases, the PAO-SACS and the two RSACU
also handled a total of 908 civil and special cases such as appealsfrom the decision of NLRC, SSS and GSIS. In those handled cases, a
total of 556 favorable disposiEons were obtained by the PAO-
SACS ftom January to December 2017.
a
Interuiewed & Assisted
NO. OFREADII{GGLASSES
DISTRIflJTED
r55
qr@r City FetnaleDamib.y
Maf 29,20t7 168 1!r 35 85
4 Mahbon City lail June 20,2017
4r]] 27t 26 36 166
Valenzuda City lail June 2Q2077
4rH 1.l8 164 29 L22
6Cmertimal
Institrtbn furWoIIEn
Jtrle 2Z20t7 5Itt 153 t76 52
7Carectbnal
Institutbn forWmEr
July 28,2017 6ri 227 321 52 220
8 Taguil City JailA€rd
M,2017 7n1 154 2@ 133
Makati City Jailtlor€mber27, 2017
gft 133 183 44 103
TOTAL 1,445 1,492 391 t,33' 2,2'r1
a LEGAL/TNQUEST PROCEEDTNGSASSISTANCE
On their scheduled duties, the public attorneys and staff of thePAO-Central ffice have alternately been providing legal and inquestproceedings assistance even during night time, weekends andholidays since October 2009. For this purpose, the PAO hotlines,929-9436 (local 106 or 107 duing office hours and loal 159 afreroffice hours), 426-2801, 426-245q 426-2982 and 426-2683 areopen to the public 24/7.
In September 2010, the coverage of this program wasexpanded to serve the people covered by the regional and districtoffices of the PAO, nationwide. Since then, the said offices have beenrendering legal assistance (e.9. legal advice, attending to the legalneeds of suspects in the police stations within the territorialjurisdiction of the concerned PAO regional/district offices) up to10:00 P.M. everyday (including weekends and holidays). Further, theassigned PAO inquest public attomeys and staff therein remain oncall, even beyond 10:00 P.M., to attend to inquest calls in policestations nationwide.
A total of 481849 clients benefited from the services providedby the PAO consisting of inquest assistance, legal advice/counsellingand documentation at the above duty stations covering the periodJanuary to December20l7.
IV. STATISTI REACCOMPLISHMENT
trun varbGFils in MetsoManila and
nearbyprwirEes
vb ed by thePAGCentralOffice andbllo$,ed lpby fie field
ofhces.
Table No. 6
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 9N
ol tt
3RD
5
179
57
9
A. RENDITIOil OF 'UDICIAL
SERVICES1. Regular Services
a) CRIITIINAL
REPRf,SENTATION OF TNDIGENTS INJUDICIAL CASES (CRIMINAL)
*Cases Handled vs. Target*
750,(m
500,(m
250,(m
0
640,094
513,141 NewlyReceived
I Carry-Over
297,24/t
2ALt67
OUTPUT TARGET
TOTAL NTIMBER O[' CASES EANDLEII
Graph No. 2
For the yeat 2017, the PAO handled a total of W,O94criminal cases; of this total, 342r81O cases are newly receivedcases and 297,2U cases are carried-over from the previous year.
RI,PRf,SE\T.{TION OF IIIDIGLYIS INJ U DICIAL CASIS (CRT[\AL)
*Crscs lbrminated !s. 'l'arget*
240.dnzLt,Xt5 196,1?4
R"f,PRf,,SE\T{TION OF IIIDTGf,YIS INJ LDICIAL CASXS (CRL}IL\AL)
*ACQUII t',Al., rvL\NtNG CASLS -tAvoRAtlLD DLSIUSI I l()-\ s*
r80,m l6l,l3a
160,m
80,o0
TGI, Uta 15r.690
I rilvorab r
l(,tr.rstto,o
60,o0
o
I taF.abl€
lOthers
o
50.84
rOlAT \T'\{B[ R O': ( ASIS TIRIII\AIIDofrTrtT T-{nGfT
toTAt ryrrwBrn oF crsfs Tfn\fl\taTEn
Graph No. 3 No. 4
PAO ACCOMPIJSHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7
G
Page l0+(df41
:!42,810211,974
so,08a +1,{t4
Out of the 2111226 terminated criminal cases from January toDecember 2017, t6I,L38 cases or about 76.2901o thereof werefavorably disposed by the respective Public Attorneys assigned tohandle the same.
b)crwL
REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENTS INJrrDrcrAL CASES (CnL)*Cases Handled vs. Target*
45,@O41,tx)4
35,028
30,(D0 -J Carry{ver25,153 t9,2t2
r5,(mINewly
Rece i\r€d
0OT TPLT TARGI,T
TOTAL \T}IBER OF CASI S TI,R\TD{ATED
Graph No. 5
For the year 20\7, the PAO handled a total of 41,(X)4 civilcases; of this total, 151851 cases are newly received cases and251153 cases are carried-over from the previous year.
REPR"E SENI{T ION OF IIIDICENTS L\IJUDICIAL CASES (CML)
'Cuics Tcrminrk'd vs. Terycl'
I r,7:ts qmo -
1tu
o.d)
5,m
9)721
0
9,D49
8,0mJ'a\qebL
t o$l. t
a,o@
0
December 2017, g,Mgfavorably disposed byhandle the same.
TorAL \a-}fllfR olr CAsfs If LIL\-ATEI)
Graph ltlo. 6 Graph l,l,o. 7
Out of the 111735 terminated civil cases ftom January tocases or about 77.LLo/o thereofthe respective Public Attorneys ass ed
reto
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FORTHE YEAR 2017 Page 11al
.tf lr
R.EPRI Sf,NT,{rION OF INDIGE}iTS INJTTDICLAL CASES (CML)
*FA\ ORdBLE DLSFOSITIO\S*
otrTPlrr rancfr
TOTAI IiIIrrlB[N OP CfSfS IF.NVINATFJI
15,E51 15,816
c) ADMTNTSTRATTVE CASES PROPER
REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENTS INQUASI-JUDICIAL CASES
(ADMINISTRATIIT CASES PROPER)*Cases Handled vs. Target*
15mO
t0m
0
13,807 r.3,o!r9
9,03910,942
ofrTPf-T TARGET
TOTAL :{TIMBER OF CASES TER"[1L\-ATEI)
Carry-Over
REPRESENTATION OF NiDIGENTS INQTTASIJfIDICIAL CASES
(ADMDTISTRATT\T CASf, S PROPER)*Cases Terminated vs, Target*
5,OU'5,127
4,(m 3,880
2,(m
3.5m 3,39!
2,4m
.l.Jm
0
Jte\or.ble
I Otherj
0
2.024
r()tAl- \t llDt,:R or( 4st:s lr:Rllr\all.:l)OT-IPTT TARGET
TOIAL \AANBER OF CASfS IERMNSATEI)
Graph No. 9 Graph No. 10
Out of the 5,427 terminated administrative cases proper fromJanuary to December 2017, 31399 cases or about 62.630/0thereof were hvorably disposed by the respective Pu
Attorneys assigned to handle the same.c
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 Page 12 o
0(rln
10,m0 I NewlyRe ce ived
Graph No. 8
The PAO handled a total of 13,807 administrative casesconsisting of 9rO39 carry-over cases and 41768 newly receivedcases from January to December 2017.
R-tPR"USUN',lAl'tO-\ 0i' tNDtGr-\l S lN
QIIASIJLDICLAI Cr\Sf, S(,u)-ul\ts I'Rrt tYf, cAstj,s PROPIR)
"F,{VOR,TBIT DISPOSMONS'
d) PROSECUTOR',S OFFTCE CASES
REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENTS INQTIASI-JTIDICIAL CASES
(PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CASES)*Cases Ilandled vs. Target*
7t(Do64,033
68,975
-l carryorrersqqx)
3i1,839 ta,26L I ltewtyRe(tived
2t(Do
0ot-TPt-T T.4.RGf,T
Graph No. 11
For the year 2017, the ffice handled a total of 64,033 casesat the Prosecuto/s level, 291194 of which are newly received and341839 are canied over from the previous year.
Rf,PRf,SENTATION OF NDTGE}ITS INQI'ASIJfTDICIAL CASES
(PROSECLTTOR'S OTTTCE CASES)
'Cases lbrmimted vs. Target*41(m
39,t)6 ,4,579
30,mo
15.(m
0Of.TPfTI TARGET
IOTAI \I,IMBER OF CASES TERMINAIED
For the same period, 351126 cases were terminated byrespective Public Attorneys assigned to handle the same.
Nln,PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 13 o
TOTAI NI]\IB[R OF CASIS TERMDiATED
Gnph No. 12
29,L94 4,7L4
e) TABOR CASES
90,o00 85,157
32,91150,m0
Rf,PRfSf,NT.{TION OF [\-DIGE:{TS INQIiASIJIIDICIAL CASES
(LABOR.CASf,S)rCases Terminrted vs. Target'
75d'5S.079
v),(Do
25,mO
ItrtewyReceived
REPRTSE,NTATION OF ITIDICET.{TS II\I
QI-ASIJITDICIAL CASES
0,ABOR CASES)*FAI'OR{BLE DISPOSMIONS*
24,(r . 23J53
lG(mJFaro-Jble
I Otfiers
8,0m 4,6c,Io
44,630
r9,97530,(D0
0T.{RGET
TOTAL NIIIBf,R OF CASES TER}II\ATI,D
Graph No. 13
In Labor cases, the PAO was able to handle a total of 4,630complaints from January to December 20t7, 27,9O5 of which werealready disposed of.
0
OTTPIiT IARGf,I
TOTAL \AtrIEER OT CASES TERMNATEI)
Graph No. 14 Graph No. 15
Out of the 27r9O5 terminated labor cases from January toDecember 2017, 23,253 cases or about 83.33q6 thereof werefavorably disposed by the respective Public Attorneys assignedhandle the same.
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENI REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 14
(kar
RIPRESENTATION OF INDIGENTS INQITASI-JITDICL{L CASES
(LABOR CASES)*Cases Ilandled vs- Thrget*
JCarry-Over
OfTPTT
TOI.q,[ IIYBER OF CASfS TfR\{L\ATfI)
24,655
s2,246
LIMITED SERVICES
I OUTPUT ITARGET
4m,o(D 406,667374,q)4
350,fin
280,000
2lo,omr73,r.93
133,140,0&
u,95772,142 61,339
70,@O 1
o
ARRAIGNMENT PRE-TRIAL PROMULGATIONOF JUDG€MEt{T
OTHERS
Total number of accused asslsted = 686,072
2. Limited Services
Graph No. 16
The PAO has extended limited services to accused in criminalcases specifically on the stages of arraignment pre-trial,promulgation of sentence and in such other stages of the case wherethe PAO is sought to engage. It assisted a total of 6861072 accusedfrom January to December 2017.
3. Special Legal Servies (Purcuantto Sec lrt-A of R.A.9406 and MOAS)
From January to December 20t7, the PAO serued a total of25,tKt9 clients under Special Legal Seruices.
"SEC. 14-A Powers and Functions. - The PAO shallindependently dixharge its mandate to render, free ofchargq legal repr#ntation, assistance, and counselling toindigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, administative andother quasi-judicial axs. In the exigency of ffie seruice,the PAO may be called upon by proper govemmentauthoities to render such seruice to other persons, subjed
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 15{$nr
to existing laws, rules and regulations."
B. RENDTTTON OF QUASr-JUDTCTAL SERVICES
1. Mediation and Conciliation
360.06
RNI{DITION OF
QTASTJUDICLAI SERVTCES
o{Dr}IATION & CONCTLIATIOI9*Cascs Erndhd vr Trrgct*
$7r3r?51,X29
- Crry-ouer2X,(m
lNeldvIb(erved
1jD.m
0OL II'11 IARGLI
ror _ NfvtfnorcAsEsrERM Arfn
R.ENDIIIO\ OTQLI.{SIJUDICIAL SI,R\ICES
(Mf,,DLAIION & CONCTLIATTOT9*Ceses Tenninated vs Target*
360,@320,939
2ao,m 237 tl6a
u0,ru
0OfTPIT TA.RCIT
IOTAI Nr}IBIR OT CASES TERMf\1IID
Graph No. 17 GGph No. 18
It is worthy to take note that the Office also renders mediationand conciliation services as part of its quasi-judicial function. For theperiod covering January to Decemberl0l7, it handled a total of337,831disputes and resolved a total of 320,939 thereof.
2. Investigation
For the year 2077, the PAO conducted a total of 19investigations of cases involving torture. The Office is mandated toassist in torture cases through Sec. 11 of Republic Act (R.A.) 9745 orthe Anti-Torture Act of 2009, viz
"Section 11. Assistance in Filing a Complaint - The
CHR and the PAO shall render legal assistance in theinvestigation and monitoring and/or filing of the complaintfor a petson who suffers tofture and other cruel, inhumanand degrading treatment or punishment, or for anyinterested party lt ereto."
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 Page 16
(6f 4r
31!,165Ls,621
C. RENDITION OF NON.'UDICIAL SERVICES
1. Instant Seryices
NISTAI'T SER\TICES
IOUTPUT ITARGET
3,s@o(D 3,484,920
2"811-5112r'8oq,(}(I) xs8z19t
2,087,5542,loq,(m
t oqo(D
?Oq(m
o
tx!,2"(E1
LSsL927
TEGAT DOTU MENIAIION OAIH5 AOMINIsTERTD CI-IEMTS COU SEIfO
Total number of clierts essisted = 3,409,045
Graph No. 19
The PAO has rendered instant services to 814091045 clientsthat include legal documentation, counselling and administering ofoaths for the period covering January to December 2017.
2. Outreach Services
OUTREACH SER\.ICESIOI'TPUT ITAR6ET
252,169
2ro,o(x)
BAR]qNGAY OUTRfAcl{
2AO,Om
2()4,503
1/Ur,Oq)
70, mO
o
199,500 199,260
ltwEsTtcAT tof{ & cusToolAlIN\I€STIGATION
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 Page 17{
o{lr
WOI'ETI CLIETITSATID CHTLDRETI TN AONFLICT WITH THE LAW
Under R.A. No. 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-ViolenceAgainst Women and their Children Act and R.A. No. 9344, othenrviseknown as the luvenile lustice and Welfare System Act, as well as thesubsequent pertinent issuances, the PAO is specifically mandated bylaw to extend legal assistance to women and their children who arevictims of violence and to facilitate the release and proper dispositionof cases involving Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL),pafticularly those who were fifteen years old or below at the time ofthe alleged commission of the crime.
To this mandated task, the PAO continuously gives specialattention to the cause of women and children in so far as the criminaljustice system is concerned.
50d0
40(D0
20.(D0
0
REPRESENTATIO\ OF W ONTEN
CT,ID\TS+Dhputes Ilendled rs. Trrget*
52.EiO
15,05729,457
21,153
REPRESI,]YTATION OF CIilI,DRE\ Nicot\-Fr,rcr wrTH THF. t.Aw (c1fl,)
"Disputes Hrnalled vs. Target*
lo,db
2q(m
1q(m
24,153
1s,960
22,180
15,601
Car_y{'re_
al.c.vlyPreei,/€c
o La:o(rPt-r 1.IRGET
TOTAI \Af{BfR OF CASIS TIR\If\'ITEII
Graph No. 2l
OT'TPT'T IARGET
rOTAL \1IIBf,R OF CASf,S Tf,RTtr]\'ArID
assisted by the PAO for the year 2017. From2017, the ffice handled a total of 36,O67involving wornen and CICL, respectively.
January to Decembeand 2d153 ca
f
PAO ACCOMPLISHMET{T REPORT FOR T}M YEAR 2017 Page l8{
$11
In the barangay outreach activities conducted by the Officefrom January to December 2017, it assisted a total of 199,50Oclients. Moreover, from January to December 2017, the PAO
assisted a total of 252,169 clients during inquest investigations andcustodial interrogations.
22,9738.91{
,lCirry{ver
!tbx YReceitred
Gnph No. 22
The graphs above show the number of women and children
8,lll3 sJ79
RI.PR.ESEIIT.{TION OF \YO}I[,ICLIENTS
*Disputes Ierminated vs Trrget*
3q,q)0
20,'L92q,000
tq,m0
REPRESENTATIO\ OFCHTI,DRI\ tNCONFI.ICT IITII{ THD I,AW (CIfl.)
*Dlsputes Termlnrtcd vs. T.rg€t*
25,622
9,O
6,m
3,m
8,001
5,184
0 0
otlPt'r rAnGfT
TOTAI IE}TBEX OF CASf,S Tf,RMf\AIXD
OTTPTT TA.RGf T
rOT - :TT-!TB[N, OFC.{SES TERMNATfI)
Graph No. 23 Graph No. 24
For the same period, a total of 20,449 and 8r0O3 cases wereterminated involving women and CICL, respectively.
The above-shown data is a testament to the continuous trustand faith of the people in the performance of the agency.
V. THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PUBLICATTORNEY
The ffice of the Chief Public Attorney rwivd/anaretd61434 ammuniations from January to December,2017.The breakdown is as follows:
I
Tobl No. ofbmmunkztiofls 68,4yCommunications b / from CPA Ru€da-Acosta
15r54A. Crmmunications from the Executive Suppot't Stafft,8261. Appointments
5072. Memorandum4723. Memorandum Order
3 Ir3. Memorandum Circular237 /t5. ffice Order
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017(pf 4r
It is viewed that when the agency perForms its duties andresponsibilities with the highest standard of efficiency and dedication,it gives its humble share in converting and transforming public apathyand chaos into trust and faith to the criminal justice system andultimately to the entire administration.
Page 19
6. Reassignment Order 92
7. Travel Order 35
t48. Special Order
9. Other Communications
9.1. Signed by CPA L57
12,2019.2. Signed by Executive lawyers4$73
1. Administrative Service 2,706
2. Legal Research Service 991
4463. Field Opentions and Sbtistics Service
754. Financial Planning and Management Service
3555. Special and Appealed Cases Service
8,126C. Communications from Regional Offices
3211. Region I262. Region U
8353. Region III1,1454. Region IV
4585. Region V
7096. Region VI7. Region VII
3628. Region VIII3259. Region D( / ARMM
10. Region X
30011. Region XI29r12. Region )OI
13. Region )0II/CARAGA
2yJ14. CAR
r,52115. NCR
2,124D. Communicafions from OP, OVP, Senate &HORy,4o2E. Communications from Other ffices
4881. Department of lustice4,8252. Supreme Court
21,7233. Gurt of Appeals
1,4294. NaUonal Labor Relauons Commission
5,4335. Other Communications5046. Applicants
860F. Publications
3v2. Magbnorv lQy Atton ey, BulgatL453. 9y Mo Attorney?, People's Tonight
2,8O5G. EMAI61,9351. Legal Assisbnce
18 / 12. Applicants6043. Other emails
PAO ACCOMPUSHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 20( 4l
B. Communications from Other Services
529
502
272
361L MrPAA ManilaTimes
i \,
I
4. Emails from PAO-District OfficesTable No. 7
II. The Office of the Chief Public Attorney actually serued 28,831clients during this period.
III. The Chief Public Attorney served as nesounae pton, in thefollowing seminars, trainings, and meetings, among others:
a. Gaest Spker, The Association of GovernmentAcountants of the Philippines' (AGAP) Annual @nvention-Seminar fl-heme: "Transforming the Government Financial Sector inthe Era of ASEAN Integration), October 18-21, 2017, WaterfrontCebu City Hotel, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City;
b. Gust Spaker, Breakfast Forum in Kapihan sa Klub,Inc., September 28, 2017, Centennial Room, Club Filipino, ClubFilipino Avenue corner Eisenhower St., Greenhills, San Juan City;
c Gast of Honor and Spaker, Annual UnivercityConftrence of the Univercity of Makati, June 6, 2017, Universityof Makati Mini Theater;
d. Guest of lbnor aN Spker, Public InstallaUon ofElecbd and Appointed Offiers of Araw Lodge No. 18, held onMarch 18, 2017 at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1004 Taft Ave., Manila;
e. Guest of llonor and Spker, Public Insilallation ofElected and Appointed Offierc of the Muntinlupa City Lodge41d held on February 25,2077 at the Muntinlupa Masonic Temple,Emerald Hills, Victoria Homes SuM., Tunasan, Muntinlupa City;
N The Chief Public Attorney ptsonally handld and/or ldthe following cases, and,lorueMetd lqal asisbne tothe following individuals, inter ali4 to wit:
a..lohn Balluss? Hold Deprturc Oder liM
Upon the request of the Australian Embassy, the Chief Public
Attomey and PAO-Makati District Office assisted lohn Bulluss, an
Australian citizen, in a criminal case for Estafa.
In an Order, dated March 14. 2017. the Regional Trial Court,Branch No. 57 of Makati City, through Judge Honorio E. Guanlao, Jr.,granted the PAOb motion to dismiss the said caseprosecute. Consequently, Bulluss's Hold Departure Orand he was able to leave the Philippines for Australia.
tolifted
ilt'n'PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR TIIE YEAR 2OI7
forder
fail
Page 2l
248
The Petition for Review filed by the Chief Public Attorney andher legal team on behalf of Lt. Col. Ferdinand L. Marcelino, seekingthe reversal of the Resolution dated September 15, 2016, wasgranted and the drug charges against Lt. Col. Marcelino and hiscompanion, Yan Yi Shou, were dismissed.
The Department of lustice, in a Resolution dated May 17. 2012ruled that Lt. Col. Marcelino and Yan V Shou were just performingtheir lawful duty when they were chanced upon by anti-narcoticsagents inside an alleged clandestine laboratory in Manila.
In connection thereto, in an Order dated May 18. 2017, theRegional Trial Court, Branch No. 49 of Manila, through Judge DanielC. Villanueva, granted the Public Attorney's Officet Motion toWithdraw Information against Lt. Col. Ferdinand L. Marcelino and Yan
Yi Shou and the two were ordered to be released immediately.
c. bnib han? brmer empbyerc found by RTC-Bnrch 77 of Queon CiU guifty for the crime of *rbasillqalMntbn
Since 2012, the Chief Public Attorney and her legal team have
been assisting Bonita Baran in the latte/s cases against her formeremployers, Anna Liza Catahan y Tarrosa and Reynold Mazan y Tan,who maltreated and detained her.
In a Decision dated July 74, 2017. the Regional Trial Court,Branch 77 of Quezon City, through Judge Ferdinand C. Baylon, foundAnna Liza Catahan y Tarrosa guilty of serious illegal detention andwas sentenced to serve the penalty of Reclusion Perpetua while herco-accused, Reynold Maaan y Tan, was found guilty as an
accomplice to the said crime and was sentenced to suffer the penalty
of Prision MayorM&ium as Minimumto Rulusion TemporalMdiumas Maximum.
d. Estipona v. llon. lobrigo and tuple, G.R. llo.226679, 75 Atryust 2O77
Salvador A. Estipona, Jr. was the accused in Criminal Case No.
13586 for violation of Section 11, Article II of R.A. No. 165(Possession of Dangerous Drugs) pending before Judg nk E.
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENI REPORT FOR TTIE YEAR 2OT?
eF
Page 22 #,,
b. Lt @1. fttdinand ltlatelino and ompnion, Yan YiShou, M fiom Mentfion
Lobrigo of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 3, Legazpi City,Albay.
Thus, the Chief Public Attorney and her legal team,representing Estipona, elevated the case to the Supreme Court via aPetition for Certiorari and Prohibition and challenged theconstitutionality of Section 23 of Republic Act No. 9165 for beingviolative of the constitutional right to equal protection of the law andthe rule-making authority of the Supreme Coutt under Section 5(5),Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution, among others.
In its Decision dated 15 Auoust 2017, the Supreme Courtdeemed it proper to declare as unconstitutional the prohibitionagainst plea bargaining in drug cases, for being contrary to the rule-making authority of the Supreme Court under Section 5(5), ArticleVIII of the 1987 Constitution.
e, tuur (4) youngsfurc who did witfi indiations oftofture
Kian Loyd Delos Santos, Carl Angelo Arnaiz, Reynaldo "Kulof'de Guzman, and Michael Angelo Remecio were four (4) youngsterswho had indications of torture before they were killed and robbed oftheir promising lives.
The parents of the said youngsters sought the legal istance
of the Public Attorney's ffice (PAO), as well as forensic minationon the remains of their sons.
PAO ACCOMPUSHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 23Nolar
On June 15, 2016, Estipona, with the assistance of the PAO
Legazpi City District Office, filed a Motion to Allow the Accused toEnter into a Plea Bargaining Agreement, praying to withdraw his notguilty plea and, instead, to enter a plea of guilty for violation ofSection 12, Article II of R.A. No. 9165 (Possession of Equipment,Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for DangerousDrugs). He argued that Section 23 of R.A. No. 9165, which states"SEC 23. Plea-Bargaining Provision. - Any person charged under anyprovision of this Act regardless of the imposable penalty shall not beallowed to avail of the provision on plea-bargaining.i violates: (1)the intent ofthe law expressed in paragraph 3, Section 2 thereof; (2)the rule-making authority of the Supreme Court under Section 5(5),Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution; and (3) the principle ofseparation of powers among the three equal branches of thegovernment. After the prosecuUon filed its Comment or OpposiUonthereto, the RTC issued an Order denying Estipona's motion. Estiponafiled a Motion for Reconsideration but the same was denied by theRTC.
The case of Kian Lovd Delos Santos
Kian Loyd Delos Santos (Kian) was a 17-year-old minor whodied on August 16, 2017 while certain members of the CaloocanPolice were conducting an anti-illegal drug operation in Libis, Baesa,Caloocan City. According to the version of the police, Kian drew hisgun against members of the police force, prompting a shoot-out,which eventually led to his death. However, a CCTV footage surfacedshowing that Kian was accosted alive by the police and wasapparently dragged to the place where he was killed. The forensicexamination conducted by the PAO Forensic Laboratory also showedthat Kian sustained three (3) gunshot wounds - two (2) in the headwhich may have been inflicted while he was on the ground on aprone position and one (1) in the back - contrary to the PhilippineNational Police (PNP) report that Kian only sustained two (2) gunshotwounds in the head.
On Auoust 25.2017, with the assistance of the Chief PublicAttorney and her legal team, the parents of Kian lodged a complaintfor Murder and Wolation of the Anti-Torture Law againgr members ofthe Caloocan Police involved in the operation before the NationalProsecution Seruice of the Depaftment of lustice (DOI-NPS). Thestatus of Kian's case, as of last year: Preliminary investigation at theDOJ-NPS.
The cases of Gil Anoelo Arnaiz and Revnaldo "Ktlot" deGuzman
Carl Angelo Arnaiz (Carl), aged 19 years old, and minorReynaldo De Guzman (Kulot), aged 14 years old, were hanging out atthe former's house on the evening of August 17, 2017. They werelast seen boarding a tricycle on or about midnight of August 18,2017. Since then, the two (2) went missing.
On August 28,2017, Carl was found by his family at a funeralparlor in Caloocan City. Reportedly, the cause of his death was due togunshot wounds he sustained when he allegedly exchanged fire withthe police officers who was about to arrest him for robbing a cabdriver along C3 Road, Caloocan City.found lifeless, riddled with stab wouGapan City, Nueva Ecija on SeptembeCarl's body was found and identifieddays after he went missing.
On the other hand, Kulot wands, and floating in a creekr 6, 2017, or nine (9) daysby his family and ninetee (1e)
q(
t'PAO ACCOMPLISHMNNT REPORT FOR THFJ YIIAR 2OI7 Page 24 I
The testimonies of witnesses and the result of forensicexamination conducted by PAO Forensic Laboratory upon therequest of the surviving families of Carl Angelo and Kulot belie theclaim of the involved police officers and indicate that the allegedshootout was merely "staged" and Carl was shot in an "executionstyle". The chain of circumstances attendant to the case and initialinvestigation also led to the conclusion that the culprits who killedCarl are likewise responsible for the death of Kulot.
Thus, with the assistance of the Chief Public Attomey and herlegal team, the surviving families of Carl and Kulot filed complaintsfor Double Murder and Wolation of the Anti-Torture Law again*.certain police officers involved in the alleged shootout before theNational Prosecution Service of the Department of lustice onSeotember 14,2017. Complaints for Planting of Evidence were alsofiled against the same police officers.
be cae of MichaelAnoelo Remecio
In all of the four (4) cases of the abovementioned youngsters,it has been proven that aside from the pro bono legal assistance ofthe PAO, Forensic Science, through the PAO Forensic Laboratory hasbecome an affordable tool for the poor who are seeking for justice.
Robeft dela Riafte has been a client of the PAO since 2016. Hisbrother John, was shot to death by two (2) Philippine National Police(PNPlHighway Patrol Group (HPG) personnel, namely: PO3leremiahDe Villa (now deceased) and PO2 Jonjie Manon-og.
The late lohn Dela Riarte was involved in a vehicular accidentwhich happened on July 29, 2016 at around 9:00 to 10:00 o ock inthe morning, along the southbound lane of EDSA-Estrella in onin Makati City.
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 2{'
4t
Acting on the request of the family of Michael Angelo Remecio(Michael) for legal assistance and forensic examination, the PAOForensic Laboratory was able to confirm that the corpse inside a sackthat was found along a stream in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, wasidentified as that of Michael's. His hands were bound by a nylon cord,and based on forensic examination that was conducted by the PAOForensic Laboratory on September 15, 2017, he was between 16 to18 years old.
f. tulienpn found guilty by IIAPOLCOII in drc a* ofiohn Dela Riarb
The Chief Public Attorney and her legal team assisted Dela Riaftein the filing of criminal cases for Murder, Robbery, Torture, andViolation of Republic Act No. 7438 before the Department of Justiceon August 8, 2016, likewise in the filing of administrative casesagainst the said PNP-HPG personnel before the NaUonal PoliceCommission (NAPOLCOM) on the same date. Two separateInformation for Murder/Robbery were filed before RTC 145 and 138,Makati City. Both cases are submitted for Decision. On Seotember 28.2017. the NAPOLCOM found PO2 Jonjie Manon-og culpable for gravemisconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer.
g. Fifry-two (52) PAO rct-res jrene pid by tfieDepaftment of Budget and lilanagement (DBM) of theirrcA' re m e nt g ntu ity d i tre rc n frb ls
In the case of Public Attumeyr's Offie (PAO) Retites uDepftnent of Budget and Dlanagemenl ef a/,(R-QZN-16-05464-CV), handled by the Chief Public Attorney and her legal team,Presiding Judge Maria Gilda Loja-Pangilinan, Regional Trial Court-Branch 230, Quezon City,on February 14,20L7, rendered a Decisiondirecting the Department of Budget and Management "fi, au* theimmediate releas of the retirement benefits" of the PAO retirees,recognizing the vital role and significance of public attorneys in theadministration of justice. In the words of the Honorable Judge Loja-Pangilinan, "[pJublic attomep retirees deserue to be prcvided thewherewithal to live a life of relative comfor[, dignity and security afreryearc of hononble seruice in the govemment "
In connection thereto, Secretary of lustice Vitaliano N. AguirreII, in a Letter dated Apnl17,2017, addressed to the Department ofBudget and Management (DBM), reiterated his manifestation that hefavors the immediate release of the retirement benefits of the PAO
retirees and the same should be equal to those of their counterparts,pursuant to the PAO Law in relation to the NPS Law.
Secretary Aguirre recommended that the DBM submit to theRegional Trial Court's (RTC) ruling that the DBM and GSIS lointCircular No. 2013-1 and Budget Circular No. 2013-1, which recognizethe rights of PAO retirees to gratuities same as those of their NPS
counterparts, stand; and that the PAO retirees already acquired avested right to the said benefrts because of a previous recognition bythe DBM.
After the abovementioned ruling of the Regional Trial rt-inv
Branch 230, Quezon City, through Presiding Judge Loja-Pangilinthe case Public Attomey's Offie (PAO)Depftment of Budget and Managemeni et the
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 Page 26 o{,
support of the Department of Justice, through Secretary Aguirre inthe said Letter, the Department of Budget and Management(DBM) rightftrlly paid the long-awaited retirement gratuitydiffierentials of the fifry-two (52) PAO retirees.
h. Upholding dte onsfrTntional right of dre aeud toonfmnt dre witnes of the prcwutrbn: tfie ca* of ttlariaChristina P. *rgio and Julius L. laanilao
Maria Christina P. Sergio and lulius L. Lacanilao sought theassistance of the Public Attorney's ffice when they were chargedwith alleged Illegal Recruitment under Republic Act No. 10022 and
Qualified Trafficking of Persons under Republic Act No. 8042 basedon the Sworn Statement executed by Mary Jane F. Veloso, anOverseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who was convicted of drugtrafficking in Indonesia.
The People of the Philippines (prosecution) filed before theRegional Trial Court in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija, a Mofrbn for Leaveof Court to Take the Testimony of Complainant Mary Jane Veloso byDeposition Upon Witten Intenogatories considering that Veloso isout of the country and that she will not be able to testifi/ personallybefore the court.
In behalf of Sergio and Lacanilao, the Chief Public Attorney andher legal team opposed the aforementioned Motion mainly on theground that deposiUons taken pursuant to Rules 23 and 25 of theRules of Court are not designed to replace the actual testimony ofthe witness in open court and the use thereof should be solelyconfined to civil cases. It was emphasized and argued that theproposed method of taking Veloso's testimony is violative of theirright to confront the witnesses or meet them face to face asguaranteed under Section 14 (2) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
The Regional Trial Court issued a Resolution on 16 August 2016granting the prosecution's Motion. Thereafter, the PAO filed a Motionfor Reconsideration but the same was denied in a Resolution dated03 November 2016. Hence, a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibitionassailing the said Resolutions were timely filed by the PAO.
On 13 December 2017, the Former Eleventh Division of theHonorable Court of Appeals rendered a Decision in the case of Maria
Cristina P. Sergio and lulius L. Lacanilao v. Hon. Anarica l. Castillo-Reyes, et al., CA-G.R. SP No. 749002, reversing the Resolution of theRegional Trial Court (RTC), stating that "ffe conditional examination
case is pending in light of the constitutionally enshined ightthethe
of a prosecution witness shall be made before the court
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 27il
of1l
petitioners to meet the witnesss face to face or the nght toconfrontation and cross-examination. Especially since the cross-examination of a witness is an absolute right, not a mere privilege, ofthe party against whom he is called."
i. l-qal asifrne, incfuding forensic enminatbn, ofDengnxia vidims, upn the ditutive of the Deprtment oflustie
Deceased victim Anjielica is a ten (10) year old child who wasinoculated with Dengvaxia, an anti-dengue vaccine manufactured bySanofi Pasteur, Inc. that was used by the Department of Health(DOH) in its anti-dengue mass vaccination program, which wasimplemented in 2016 during the term of then DOH Sec. lanetteGarin. On 29 November2Ol7, Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. issued an advisoryor update information on Dengvaxia recognizing the risk it poses tothose who are not previously infected by dengue virus, particularly,the occurrence of more severe disease.
At the time of writing, the parents of Anjielica Pestilos, togetherwith the PAO legal team, are preparing to file a complaint againstthose responsible for the death of Anjielica.
V. The Chief Public Attomey received the following prestigious
awards, among others, to wit:
a. ildal of Exellence conferred by theVolunteers AgainstCrime and Comrption (VACC), during its 19u'Founding AnniversaryonAugust 16,2017 at the Malacafiang Palace, Manila;
b, frtajor Avwrd for Government *ruie fnstrTufrbn(anfend als to the PublicAtlorney's Ofie)from the VACC,
during its 19dt Founding Anniversaryon August 16, 2017 at theMalacafi ang Palace, Manila;
c. Plaque of Appt iation from Araw Lodge No. 18 erthe jurisdiction of the Most Worshipfu I Grand Lodge of F and
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 age 28(,,
A few months after inoculation, Anjielica died. Aggrieved by theloss of their eldest child, plaintiffs sought legal assistance from thePublic Attorney's Office (PAO). In response to the request of theparents of Anjielica and armed with the Department of lusticeDepartment Order No. 792, s.2017 directing the PAO "to extend freelegal assistance in civil, criminal and administrative cases to allpossible victims of Dengvaxia related injuries, illnesses and deaths",the PAO forensic team conducted a forensic examination on the bodyof Anjielica.
d. Plague of Appt iation (tur Efiaodinary *ruieand Niation b tfie Pmfesion) from the Muntinlupa CityLodge 414, F & A.M. on the occasion of the 3d Installation of Electedand Appointed fficers of the said Lodge, on February 25, 2017 atthe Muntinlupa Masonic Temple, Emerald Hills, Victoria Homes SuM.,Tunasan, Muntinlupa City;
f. Robty Golden wheel Awatd (in lfie field of fucialJustie) from the Quezon City Government in paftnership with theRotary International District 3780, conferred on February 4,2017 atthe Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City on the occasion of the5h Rotary Golden Wheel Awards Night.
VI. OTHER SIGNIFICANTACCOMP SHMENTS
a, Asisbne b drW depndenb tqoding daumenbtion,nepn*enbtion, and rchabilibtion
From January to June 2017, four thousand nine hundredtufi-seven (4p47) individuals have availed of the pro bonoservices regarding documentation and representation - forrehabilitation purposes in relation to Oplan-"Tokhang" - of the PAO
through its Regional and District Offices nationwide.
For FY 2017, the PAO handled two hundred hn thousandeight hundred si:Gy-three (210,863) drug-related cases, fifry-five thousand three hundred thirty (55,330) of which were
disposed/terminated. Moreover, for the year 2017, the PAO was able
to assist one hundred eighty-six thousand two hundrcdtwenty-sir (186,226) clients in its non-judicial services (i.e.
documentation services, administration of oaths, legal counseling,
assistance during custodial interrogation, and inquest investigation
relative to cases involving the Comprehensive Dangerous D
of 2002 or R.A. 9165.
ilffPAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 Page 29 4l
Accepted Masons of the Philippines), on the occasion of the 109hInstallation of fficers for the Masonic Year 2Ol7 of the said Lodge,on March 18, 2017 at the Scottish Rite Temple, 1004 Taft Ave.,Manila;
e. @rtificab of Appt iation (tur Exellene inLaderchip) from the Best otthe Philippines, Co., during its 26hAnniversary (with the theme, "Honoring the Leaders), given onFebruary 23,2017 at the Rockwell Club, Amorsolo Drive, Makati City;
b, The Public Attorney's Ofre as a member of the fnter-Agenq @mmittee on Anti-fllqal Drugs fiCAD)
The PAO is a member of the InEr-Agency Committee onAnti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) which was created by the President ofthe Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, through Executive Order No.15, dated 06 March 2017.
The Inter-Agenry Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) isdivided into four (4) clusters namely:
a. Enforcement Clusterb. lustice Clusterc. Advocacy Clusterd. Rehabilitation and Reintegration Cluster
The PAO is under the Advocacy Cluster, Rehabilitation andReintegration Cluster, and lustice Cluster. Under the latter, thePAO is specifically tasked to ensure "protection to individual's rights,such as in instances of voluntary surrenders and warrantless arrestsduring anti-illegal drug operations".
The Public Attorney's Office has religiously attended all themeetings called by ICAD and submitted all the required reports.
c. PAO empbye wln wlunbrily submitW hinwlf for drugrchabilibtion, now bck at tlrc PAO'@nlral Otrte wiil, fitllvigor
An employee of the PAO, voluntarily submifted himself for drugrehabilitation on Aoril 12. 2017 at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan,Taguig City. He was thereafter temporarily discharged on October 19,
2017, and was required to undergo an After-Care Follow-upTreatment for a period of not exceeding eighteen (18) months upon
the date of actual discharge.
He consequently resumed his post at the PAO-Central Office, and
was immediately transferred to another service in the sameplace/building, pursuant to the grant of his request dated October 24,
2017, addressed to the Chief Public Attorney. He currently discharges
his duties as a fulltime staff with full vigor, exempliffing more interestin work, and in a conduct of healthier lifestyle, observable among hispeers/colleagues in the service.
d. fur the "Tanay Bus Tngedy Victimsr" a surcssfitlamprumi* agtement with Bestlink and Panda Cuch
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page of rll
The "Tanay Bus Tragedy Victims," some of whom were thestudents-survivors and relatives of the deceased, involving theFebruary 20, 2077 vehicular tragedy in Tanay, Rizal, sought legalassistance from the PAO - Central Office. They sought justice forthe death of fourteen (14) students and injuries sustained by forty-seven (47) passengers. They believed that the same were caused bynegligence in transpofting the students to Tanay, Rizal by a PandaCoach Bus, which was sub-contracted by Harana Tours, in relation tothe students' medical and survival training as part of the NaUonalService Training Program, which was sanctioned by Bestlink Collegeof the Philippines.
Verily, the PAO-Central Office conducted a Pre-LitigationConference, wherein some of the students-survivors had successfullyentered into a compromise agreement with Bestlink and PandaCoach.
With respect to the relatives of the deceased, the PAO-Centralffice represented them in the following cases: (a) administrativecase for the preventive suspension of Panda Coach's Certificates ofPublic Convenience pending before the Land TransportationFranchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB); and (b) civil case forDamages pending before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City,Branch 223.
e. fur sme of the rclative4icnb of victims in tfie 'RegitfsWorld- llanila AtbclE" a surcs{nl ompromi* agtementwitfi the Reg,rfs World Manila
On lune 2,2017, the gaming area of the Resorts World Manilain Pasay City was caught on fire hours after a gunman went on arampage in the casino complex; hence, claiming the lives of thirty-eight (38) individuals.
Some of the relatives of the deceased sought legal assistancefrom the PAO-Central Office. Consequently, the latter conducted aPre-Litigation Conference, wherein some of the victims hadsuccessfully entered into a compromise agreement with the ResoftsWorld Manila.
f, krmanent appointment of the Chief Public Atbrney andtfie Deputy Chief Public Atbrneys
Chairperson Bernard P. Abesamis, et a!. v. Civil SeCommission represented by Chairman Francisco T. Du eIII, et al. (G.R. # 197762, March 7, 20t7), the Honorable Sup me r
6f 4rPAO ACCOMPI,ISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 3l
In Career Executive Service Board represented
Court ruled that the Chief Public Attorney and the Deputy Chief PublicAttorneys are not required by law to be Career Executive Serviceffiicers (CESO) before being qualified as permanent appointees.Otherwise stated, they cannot be removed from their respectivepositions if the sole reason for such is the lack of Career ExecutiveService eligibility.
g. Empvventrentof lhe PAO Employees
The Public Attorney's ffice, in its commitment to empower, re-orient, and keep its employees abreast, conducted a series ofseminars on the Revised PAO Operations Manual and Code ofConduct. For the year 2017, all lawyers and staff of the followingRegions attended the said seminars:
1. Public Attorneys:A. NCRB. Centralffice (lst batch)C. Central Office (2nd batch)D. Region 4A & BE. Region 3 -
F. Region 5 -G. CAR, Region 1 and 2H. Regions 6 to 8 and NIRI. Regions 9A,98, 10, 11, 12,13 -
2. Support Staff:A. Regions in VisayasB. Regions in LuzonC. Regions in Mindanao
May 22 - 24July3-5July 12 - 14
h. rhe f Dtandabry @ntinuing Lqal Education (rrCLE)Amrdibd tlational Conyenfrbn of Public Atbneys: Amilesbne
fhe 66 Dlandabry @ntinuing Legal Edaation QICLE)AerdiM National Conyention of Public Attoneys wasconducted on Seotember 18 to 22. 2O17 at the Tent City, ManilaHotel, One Rizal Park 1099, Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila. Thiswas the first convention to be conducted by the Public Attorneytffice (PAO) under the administration of President Rodrigo RoaDuterte, the Keynote Speaker during its Opening Ceremonies. Thus,this MClE-accredited activity of the PAO, was not just anotherconvention, it was a milestone!
In the said convention, the PAO endowed freely mo1,500 public attorneys the required 36 hours of continu legal
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 32{drn
January 30 - February 1
February 20 - 22February 27 - March 1
March 15 - 17March20 -22April3 - 5April 19 - 21April24 -26May3-5
education activities. As in the previous conventions, this was dulyapproved by the Department of lustice (DOJ) and the Depaftment ofBudget and Management (DBM). Likewise, in the past years (2003,2006, 2009, 2011, and 2014), when the PAO held its five (5) MCLE-
accredited conventions, it offered therein free legal educaUonactivities as prescribed by the Supreme Court, to its lawyers, the PAO
being an MCLE provider since 2002.
i. Renewal of the ltlenprandum of Undetsbnding bfireenthe Public Atbrney,'s Ofie (PAO) and tlrc UniN NationsHigh @mmisioner for Refiryes (UllHCR)
In January 2013, the PAO and the UNHCR signed a
Memorandum of Understanding and since then have becomepaftnerc in providing free legal assistance, counseling andrepresentation to refugees, stateless persons, and those seekingrecognition as refugees or stateless persons in the Philippine context.
The PAO was able to provide free legal aid consisting of over5,000 judicial and non-judicial services to refugees, asylum-seekers,and persons at risk of statelessness from different parts of thePhilippines, while the UNHCR facilitated capacity building activitiesand provided technical assistance to PAO.
Last April 6, 2017, the said Memorandum of Understanding wasrenewed and the partnerchip between the PAO and the UNHCR wasextended for two (2) more years.
The extension of the agreement for another two years is in linewith President Rodrigo R. Duterte's policy to accept displacedpersons.
j, Menonndum of Agreenent of the Public AtlorneyS Offie(PAO) with the tuprtt pnt of Pubhb Worlcs and Highvays(DPWH) and National Housing Autfiority (NHA) rclative toflrc design of the New PAO-@ntral Ofie Building
and additional manpowe r, b. Receiving and interviewing guests anclients respectively, c. Personnel employment records and courtrecords, d. Training new employees, e. Seminars and mfficial events and functions.
,f,
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FORTHE YEAR 2017 Page 33(
lfnI
On 09 May 2017, the Public Attomey's ffice, Department ofPublic Works and Highways, and National Housing Authority enteredinto a Memorandum of Agreement with regard to the design of thenew PAO{entral Office Building. The new building intends to addressthe serious congestion problem of PAO Central ffice which has nosufficient area for: a. ffice provision of its existing 500 employees
k, Ilational Women's l+lonth @lebration 2O77
From the PAO, the Chief Public Attorney was joined in the saidevent by 161 women lawyers and staff of the PAO-Central Office, twoselected district offices of PAO-NCR and the Regional Office of PAO-MIMAROPA Region.
The PAO lawyers who attended the said event rendered freelegal consultation to some women attendees with legal problems.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE CONCERNS
The PAO, in the delivery of its mandated mission, iscomplemented by several administrative units that render support toits technical operations. Altogether, they managed to carry out itsoperations with utmost efficiency and dedication throughout the year.
a PERSONNEL COMPLEMENT
The table below shows the number of authorized, filled, andunfilled positions in the PAO for the year 2017, to wit:
Table No. 8
PERSONNEL MOVEMENT
No. 9
Authorized Filled UnfilledLawyers 2,090 2,005 85Support
Personnel984 4t
3,115 2,989 L26
TOTAL /Lawyer Support Staff103 ss2 /Recruited 449105 nyPromoted 294
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR TTM YEAR 2017 Page 34a(,f n,
In connection with the celebration of the National Women'sMonth held on March 3l,2Ol7 at the Malacafiang Palace, San Miguel,Manila, the Chief Public Attorney, attended the one-day event entitled"D-Day for Women - Digong's Day for Women".
a
From January to December 2077, the movement of personnelin the PAO is shown here below:
7,025
TOTAL
a PERSONNEL ENHANCEMENT
The PAO has conducted a series of seminars to enhance thecapability, knowledge and professional skills of participants in orderto mold them into efficient and truly competitive legalcounsels.
It has been the PAO's practice to provide continuous seminarsand training programs to its personnel, specifically lawyers, to keepthem abreast with the recent developments in law and jurisprudence.Thus, ensuring the efficiency and capability of the public attorneys inprotecting the rights of the oppressed, indigents, and other qualifiedclients of the Office.
Aside from training programs and seminars conducted by theOfflce, lawyers and support personnel from the PAO have likewiseattended other trainings, seminars, workshops and conferences uponinvitation of other government and non-government organizations.
From January to December 20L7, there were about 115seminars attended by the PAO personnel. A total of 4,854 lawyersand 1r1O3 support staff were registered in attendance.
a FINANCIAL RESOURCES
The approved appropriation for FY 2077 (per GAA) is
P2,606,112,000 and the corresponding Retirement and Life InsurancePremium (RUP) of N4,649,000 to cover operational fundingrequirements of PAO. In addition, the total amount of P480,727,368was released for payment of the following: a) Terminal Leave andRetirement Gratuity Benefits of retired PAO Lawyers (Retirement andPension Differential), b) Salary and Other Compensation andcorresponding RLIP of newly hired lawyers and c) Performance-BasedBonus. The total obligations for FY 20L7 amounted toP3,176,435,996.30.
a LIBRARY SERVICES
The PAO, through its library seruices, envisions giving betterand more efficient means of assisting its clientele through the use ofmodern and advanced information-assisted technology such as theinternet, modern fax machines, and teleptransmission of output.
hone units for seamless
For January to December 2017, a total of 11117 copi al
books and reference materials were purchased and distrib to the
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 35 oa(g4t
PAO Regional ffices and District Offices. The PAO Library, throughits personnel, was able to collate a total of 3,2il news releasesfrom eleven (11) various broadsheets and tabloids for the year 20t7,concerning the ffice, its cases, and various programs and projects.
Through its tri-media linkages, the PAO has continuously beenrendering legal advice to the general public through the newspapercolumns Say Mo Afiorney| published in Peopleb Tonight, Dear PAO,published in The Manila Times, and Magtanong Kay Attorney,published in Bulgar. A total of 145 afticles for Say Mo Attorney?,361 afticles for Dear PAO, and 354 articles for Magtanong kayAttomey were published and clipped into file from January toDecember, 2017.
a
A. Aquhed tfie following Pmpefi, Plant and Equipment and*mi-expnda ble prupfties :. 188 units Desktop Computer (l-aken from 2015 Budget). 100 units Unintem-rptible Power Supply (Iaken from 2015 Budget). 486 MS Office 2016 License flaken from 2016 Budget)o 37 Air<onditioning unit. 29 units Biometricso 21 units Closed Circuit Television (CC[V)o 10 units Two-way radioo 11 units Fax machineo 1 unit Combination and Key lock vaulto 3 units Bookshelves. 3 pcs Bench. 57 pcs ffice table. 22 pcs Computer table. 87 pcs Executive table. 85 pcs ffice chair. 22 pcs Computer chairo 226 pcs Executive chairo 168 pcs Monobloc chair. 208 pcs Filing cabinet. 2 pcs Push cart
B. turbiddingatB-DBH. 538 units Desktop Computer. 538 units Printer
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR TTIE YEAR 2OT7 Page 36
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
For the period covering January to December, 2017, thePAO purchased and distributed the following office equipment andsemi-expendable properties, to wit:
q(lf 1r
. 538 units Unintenuptible Power Supplyo 9 units Muttifunction Printerr 213 Multifunction Copier. 145 Multi-user packs Anti-Virus
C. Ptorytiydisfributd:o 244 units DesKop Computer. 188 units Printer. 231units Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Since the undersigned's assumption of office, it has been herbattle cry to put into oblivion the traditional impression of publicoffices littered with office supply and obsolete andlor worn out officeequipment. With the purchase of the foregoing office furnishings,such as chairs, filing cabinets, tables, and posture chairs, the PAOpersonnel were able to perform their duties in a more office-friendlyenvironment. Needless to say, it somehow contributed to thecontinuously swelling public trust in the seruices of the PAO.
1. PAO-NLRC SUB-STATION
By virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between thePublic Attornet's ffice (PAO) and the National Labor RelationsCommission (NLRC), the ffice maintains its sub-station at the NLRC,
located in Banawe in Quezon City, to serve its clients.
The sub-station facilitates the rendition of legal assistance tocomplaining workers before the NLRC and aims to expedite theproceedings; hence, it makes its services more accessible tocomplaining workers.
The efficiency and eflectiveness of this office has been provenfor years. For the period covering January to December 2017, a totalof 181632 clients were accommodated and given legal assistance,under this agreement.
2. RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION
(hrPAO ACCOMPLISHMEI.I"I REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 37 4l
VilI. TECHNICAL OPERATIONS
For the year2o17, a total of 21567 research works were dulyaccomplished by the Public Attorney's ffice through the LegalResearch Service.
For the said period, the PAO, through the Legal ResearchSeruice, was able to answer 299 legal queries and these werepublished in newspapers of national circulation. These include legalquestions from the public that were either directly addressed orreferred to the PAO. The sudden upsurge in the number of researchworks was brought about by the increasing public trust coupled withconsistent tri-media linkages as means of education and informationdissemination of the PAO. Perhaps, the accessibility of theundersigned Chief Public Attomey, personally, to the reach of thepublic has, for one reason, made a great difference.
3. ADMII{ISTRATryE COMPLAINTS AGAINST PAOEMPLOVEES
From January to December 20L7, 775 a*s wete resfudand terminaH out of 254 administative amplainb receivedby the PAO - Legal Research Seruice. As a result of these cases,several PAO Personnel received administrative sanctions, after duenotice and hearing pursuant to the Revised Rules on AdministrativeCases for the Civil Seruice.
This further proves the PAO's thrust in fulfilling its mandateeffectively, even to the extent of disciplining its own ranks. Thisshows that misconduct or unacceptable behavior will not betolerated, especially since the PAO, through the mantle of fortitude ofthe undersigned, has been trying to preserve the integrity not only ofthe entire agency but of every lawyer and personnel appointed in theffice.
il. Continuinq Plans and Proqrams
A. Coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management(DBM) for the construction of the PAO Central ffice's own
B. Development of an internal operating system to addInformation Technology (fF) concems, for the rend
allof
prompt and more effective legal services to the indigents
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 1l
building.
C. Organization, establishment and maintenance of database, casemanagement, and monitoring system for all cases handled bythe PAO nationwide;
D. Establishment and maintenance of Closed-Circuit Television(CC|-V) in all Regional and District offices of PAO;
E. Compliance with ISO 9000 and the Government QualityManagement Systems Standards (GQMSS), purcuant toAdministrative Order No. 161, dated October 5, 2006;
F. Maintain and upgrade the PAO Forensic Laboratory for thefurtherance of investigation being conducted relative to caseshandled by this Office, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9745 (Anti-Torture Act of 2009), Republic Act No. 9262 (Anti-ViolenceAgainst Women and their Children Act of 2004), Republic ActNo. 8353 (Anti-Rape Law), and other existing laws mandatingthe PAO to assist the victims or accused on a first come-firstserued basis;
G. Development of talents of personnel through trainings andsupport to the PAO-Chorale members;
H. Policy advocary and coordinaUon for the enhancement of thePAO Victims' Protection Unit;
I. Continuously carry out activities and outreach programs for thewelfare of prisoners and inmates such as the PAO's Legal andMedical lail Visitation and Decongestion Program;
J. Continuous promotion of good governance, professionalism,and anti-corruption measures;
K. Continuous improvement of communication facilities and otheroffice equipment;
L. Vigorous efforts to implement compensation scheme, financialincentives and retirement benefits of the Public Attorneys tofurther motivate them in discharging their duties and/or stay inthe service purcUant to R.A. No. 92t05 (PAO Law);
M.Increase the number of lawyers and suppoft staff assign ln
each of the Regional and District Offices for a more9406
PAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OI7 Page 39q(l,t1I
and efficient delivery of seruices pursuant to Republic(PAO Law);
N. Continuous coordination with the tri-media for theadvancement of the PAO outreach activities, more particularly,dissemination of free legal advice, counselling, and mediation;
P. Maintain programs and policies in achieving viftues ofexcellence, integrity, professionalism and moral values of all
Public Attorneys and staff;
Q. Strive to achieve the ideal situation of one Public Attorneybeing assigned to one court for a more effective and efficientrepresentation of clients;
R. Empowerment of the PAO! capacity in promoting Gender andDevelopment (GAD) Program of the government such as thecreation of projects and activities that will promote gender
sensitivity;
S. Continuous active participation of the PAO in the on-going anti-drugs, anti-corruption, pro-poor and social justice programs ofthe Dutefte administration; and
@ncluding Stahment
All told, this Accomplishment Report is a testament of the PAO's
dedication and commitment in effectively fulfilling its mandate to the
Filipino People by extending free and efficient legal seruices toqualified indigent litigants in all civil, criminal, labor, administrativeand other quasi-judicial cases in consonance with the constitutionalprovision that "t?ee access to coutb and quasi-judicial bodies and
adequate legat assistance shalt not be denied to any percon byreagn of povefi."
Notwithstanding the limited manpower and resources, the PAOrabl
al
{otal Budget received excluding Terminal Leave for the year 2017 divided by
of clients Assisted/Served for the year 2Ol7
was able to assist 11,616,916 clients with 76-130/o favodispositions. On the average, the government merely spent
hundred seventy-two pesos and six centavosz (Php 272.06) as
IfrPAO ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2OT7 Page 40 4t
O. Vigorously pursue the rendition of prompt effective andadequate legal services to the indigent sector;
number
T. Continuous cooperation with the courts in the case
decongestion program being spearheaded by the Supreme
Court.
fees for every client of the PAO, which show how prudent andsensible the PAO is in spending the taxpayers'money.
Moving forusard to another productive year, the PAO willcontinue its duty and obligation to remain as the government'ssteadfast partner in pursuing swift and fair administration of justice.
30 January 2018
ATTY. SILVE A. ATTY.Deputy Ch Public Attomey
for Visayas and MindanaoChief Pu ic Attomey
for Luzon
.I,IAR.IEL DPublic Aftomey
OIC, I and AppealService
JR. ATTY. DE . HUERTAry
Servhe
LATOSA
and
olc, Ad
o
A
ATTY
v. RAMOS-
blic Aftomey IVOIC, I Research Service
D LMA DUic Attomey III
OIC, and Statistics OIC, Fina ial PlannrngManagement Service
DR. PERS E -ACOSTA" DSD
el tt
PAO ACCOMPI,ISHMENT REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2017 Page 4l,(kn
DACPANOPublic Aftomey IV
Head Executive AssistantConcurrent OIC, Region IV-B
Cases
Service
Chief Public Attomey
