EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
of 111?
■22 DEC 12 All '40
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1608
iU:C£iVhD Ll
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY OFFICER OR ENLISTED 
PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) AND THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) ON ANY CHARGE BEFORE THE 
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURT, ADMINISTRATIVE OR ANY COMPETENT 
BODY ARISING FROM AN INCIDENT OR INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE 
PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill of Rights guarantees that free access to the courts and quasi-judicial 
bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of 
poverty.
Towards this end, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 9999 or the vFree Legal 
Assistance Act of 2010' which declared, among others, as a State policy the provision 
of free legal assistance to the poor and ensuring that every person who cannot afford 
the services of a counsel is provided with a competent and independent counsel.
In the 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA), then President Rodrigo 
Duterte mentioned how members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) "get unjustly sued" while performing their sworn 
duties. Thus, providing them with free legal assistance could "help and boost their 
morale."
This proposed measure allows the leadership of the AFP and the PNP to 
authorize lawyers of their respective agencies, with the assistance of the Public 
Attorney's Office (PAO), to provide legal assistance to any officer or enlisted personnel


charged before the courts arising from incidents related to the performance of official 
functions.
It is hoped that this measure can strengthen the resolve of our uniformed 
personnel in carrying out their mandate of enforcing our laws and running after lawless 
elements, and not be stymied or intimidated by possible lawsuits and legal 
harassments that may be thrown their way, especially coming from criminal syndicates 
or high-profile personalities. It also seeks to support the junior soldiers and policemen, 
especially those with low income, who may get entangled with judicial proceedings, 
and to ensure that they are properly represented and advised.
In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
RAMON
>NG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
lOfiitc of lljc £»rf;-ff(irp
'22 DEC 12 All 142
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1608
received BV;
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr.
AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY OFFICER OR ENLISTED 
PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) AND THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) ON ANY CHARGE BEFORE THE 
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURT, ADMINISTRATIVE OR ANY COMPETENT 
BODY ARISING FROM AN INCIDENT OR INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE 
PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Any officer or enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the
2 
Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), who is facing before the
3 
prosecutor's office, court, administrative or any competent body, any charge arising
4 
from an incident or incidents related to the performance of official duty, shall be
5 
entitled to free legal assistance.
6 
Sec. 2. Within twenty-four (24) hours from the official receipt of the information
7 
that an officer or enlisted personnel is charged, the Secretary of the Department of
8 
National Defense (DND), the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local
9 
Government (DILG), the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chairperson of the National
10 
Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), or the Chief of the PNP, shall authorize any lawyer
11 
or lawyers of their respective agencies, with the assistance of the Public Attorney's
12 
Office (PAO), to provide free legal assistance to said officer or enlisted personnel of
13 
the AFP and the PNP.


1 
Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
2 
effectivity of this Act, the PAO, in coordination with the DND, DILG, AFP, NAPOLCOM
3 
and the PNP, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.
4 
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
5 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
6 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
7 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
8 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
9 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
10 
accordingly.
11 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
12 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,