Cebu lawyers protest mandatory legal aid

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu yesterday put into paper their opposition against Bar Matter No. 2012, which requires lawyers to render 60 hours of legal aid service every year.

Almost 500 lawyers signed the manifesto in front of the Palace of Justice yesterday.

Tessie Garcia, secretary for legal aid of the IBP – Cebu City Chapter said they will circulate the manifesto to law offices outside the city for other lawyers to sign.

Some of the posters during the signing read, “The nobility of service is that it should be imposed”, “Legal Aid, voluntary, not mandatory”, “Tinuod nga legal aid dili pinugos”, “Tinuod ug kinasing-kasing nga libreng serbisyo, dili pinugos!”, and “MALAS involuntary servitude!”

Michael Yu, president of IBP Cebu City Chapter said, said they will appeal to the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision and to allow lawyers to render their services voluntarily.

Anna Marie P. Militante of Cebu Lady Lawyers Association (CELLA), Inc. said they support the initiative to protest the implementation of Bar Matter 2012.

Militante said CELLA have raised three concerns regarding the bar matter.

One is whether or not free legal aid services refer to appearance in court or quasi-judicial body for and in behalf of an indigent or pauper litigant and the preparation of pleadings or motions.

Second is whether or not lawyers have to file for a leave of absence to comply with the legal aid service.

“And if they would be allowed to serve indigent litigants on government time to comply with this rule, the question would now come from private practicing lawyers; wouldn’t this be unfair classification because private lawyers spend their time without pay just to comply with this rule?” CELLA questioned.

The third concern CELLA is raising is on the imposition of penalties on those who cannot comply with the directive.

Militante said CELLA itself is providing free legal service to those who cannot afford to pay lawyers. — Mylen P. Manto/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)