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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
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24 SEP 10 P3 :30
SENATE
S. B. No. 2814
r.i;ci i
(In substitution of S.B. Nos. 422, 681, 896, 1608, 2198, and 2309, taking into 
consideration H.B. No. 6509)
Prepared by the Committees on Nationai Defense and Security, Peace, Unification 
and Reconciiiation; Public Order and Dangerous Drugs; and Finance with Senators 
Go, Ejercito Estrada, Dela Rosa, Reviiia, Jr., Marcos, Viiiar (M), and Poe as authors
thereof
AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MILITARY AND UNIFORMED 
PERSONNEL FACING ANY CHARGE ARISING FROM INCIDENTS RELATED TO 
THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shaii be known as the "Free Legai Assistance
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for Miiitary and Uniformed Personnei Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the deciared policy of the State to protect
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the dignity and rights of its citizens, inciuding those responsibie for upholding the
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Constitution, defending the sovereignty of the country and its territory against ali
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enemies, enforcing the laws of the land, preventing crimes, and maintaining peace
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and order.
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The State shaii promote peace and order and ensure pubiic safety through
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effective and efficient military and uniformed service composed of highiy motivated


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officers, enlisted and uniformed personnei.
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To this end, the State shail provide free iegai assistance to military and
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uniformed personnei (MUP), including officers and uniformed personnei of the Armed
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Forces of the Phiiippines (AFP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of Jaii
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Management and Penology (BJMP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of
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Corrections (BuCor), the Philippine Nationai Poiice (PNP) and the Hydrography Branch
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of the Nationai Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), in ail stages
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of criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings arising from service-related incidents.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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(a) Miiitary and Uniformed Personnei (MUP) refers to officers, enlisted and
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uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, BuCor, PNP and the
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Hydrography Branch of the NAMRIA; and
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(b) Service-reiated Cases refers to civil, criminal, and administrative cases filed
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against the MUP related to or in connection with the discharge of their
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official functions or the performance of their duties.
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Sec. 4. Qualifications for Free Legal Assistance. - MUP facing any service-
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related case before a prosecutor's office, court, quasi-judicial or administrative body,
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or any competent body or tribunal shall be entitled to free legal assistance.
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Retired MUP shall be eligible to free legal assistance for service-related cases
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committed while still in active duty.
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Sec. 5. Procedure and Coverage. - Within twenty-four (24) hours from the
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official receipt of the charge against the MUP, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chief
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of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the Commandant of the PCG, Director General of
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BuCor, the Chief of the PNP and Administrator of the Hydrography Branch of the
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NAMRIA shall direct their respective legal offices to provide free legal assistance to
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qualified MUP as provided in this Act: Provided, That in cases of conflict of interest,
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the heads of the MUP services shall refer the service-related cases to the Public
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Attorney's Office (PAO).
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The free legal assistance shall include the following:
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(1) Legal representation in all stages of civil, criminal or administrative
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proceedings;
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(2) Legal advice or consultations;


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(3) Preparation of pleadings, motions, memoranda, and all other legal forms
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and documents; and
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(4) Notarization of documents.
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Sec. 6. Strengthening of the Legal Offices of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, BuCor,
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PNP and the Hydrography Branch of the NAMRIA. - Within ninety (90) days from the
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effectivity of this Act, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of
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the BJMP, the Commandant of the PCG, the Director General of BuCor, the Chief of
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the PNP and the Administrator of the Hydrography Branch of the NAMRIA shall submit
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to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the revised organizational
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structure and staffing patterns for their respective legal offices necessary to render
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adequate and effective free legal assistance to qualified personnel as provided in this
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Act. The DBM shall act on the submissions in accordance with Republic Act No. 11032
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otherwise known as the "Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service
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Delivery Act of 2018."
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Sec. 7. Entitlement of Government Lawyers to Payment for Expenses. - The
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government lawyer providing legal assistance to the MUP shall be entitled to payment
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of actual travel and other expenses, including Special Counsel Allowance, subject to
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existing laws, rules and regulations.
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Sec. 8. Applicability to Pending Cases. - This Act shall apply to all MUP who
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have pending service-related cases.
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Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the Secretaries of the Department of Budget and
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Management, Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local
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Government, and Department of Transportation, in coordination with the Chief of Staff
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of the AFP, the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the Commandant of the PCG,
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the Director General of BuCor, the Chief of the PNP and the Administrator of the
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Hydrography Branch of the NAMRIA, and the Chief of PAO shall issue the necessary
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rules and regulations to implement this Act: Provided, That the non-promulgation of
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the implementing rules and regulations shall not prevent the implementation of this
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Act upon effectivity.
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Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
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this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
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remain in force and effect.
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Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - Section 49 of Republic Act No. 6975, otherwise
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known as the "Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990", as
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amended by Republic Act No. 8551, otherwise known as the "Philippine National Police
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Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998", is hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees,
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orders, rules, regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby
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amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,