Bill on free legal services for the poor backed

MANILA, Philippines - Resigned Cabinet member Silvestre Bello III, who is running for senator under the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD, expressed support yesterday for a bill authored by Senators Lito Lapid and Francis Escudero that encourages law firms to extend free legal services to the poor.

“The legal assistance law will play a big role in enticing private law firms, including the distinguished or big ones, to extend pro bono service. This in turn would be a big help to the country’s indigent populace who are seeking justice,” Bello said.

Belo cited that Senate Bill 2361 or the Legal Assistance to the Poor Act of 2010 stipulates that for every service rendered without charge to poor clients, lawyers or law firms accredited by the Supreme Court (SC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall be entitled to a tax deduction of up to 10 percent of their gross income.

Lapid and Escudero claimed that the legislation would also ensure that no wrongful conviction of suspects would be made just because the accused could not afford to hire lawyers.

Bello, who has resigned from the Arroyo Cabinet to concentrate on his senatorial bid, pointed out that although the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is doing its best to provide lawyers to poor clients, it is burdened by the sheer number of cases that the agency is handling, and the lack of resources to ensure that every case is given adequate attention.

“The bill is a great equalizer insofar as it would give the poor the opportunity to avail of the services of distinguished law firms and legal practitioners of the country which have more available resources at their disposal,” Bello said.

Bello, who had served as justice secretary and solicitor general under the Aquino and Ramos administrations, said he is running under the platform of peace and justice. – Jose Rodel Clapano