Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by Representative Divina Grace C. Yu 
1st District, Zamboanga del Sur 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide 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 or any competent body arising from an incident 
or incidents related to the performance of official duty. 
The members of AFP and PNP perform their sacred duty in the preservation of our national 
security, peace and order and public safety in the country. But while in the performance of 
their duties, they are at risk of being accused of harassments, human rights violations, and 
other baseless accusations. Unfortunately, some of them cannot afford to engage the 
services of a lawyer due to prohibitive cost of legal services. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
        DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
July 5, 2022
3:50 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by Representative Divina Grace C. Yu 
1st District, Zamboanga del Sur  
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY OFFICER OR ENLISTED 
PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE ON ANY CHARGE BEFORE THE 
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURT 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 the Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Any officer or enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
(AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), who is facing before the prosecutor's office, 
court, administrative or any competent body, any charge arising from an incident or 
incidents related to the performance of official duty shall be entitled to free legal assistance. 
Section 2. Within twenty four (24) hours from the official receipt of the information 
that the officer or enlisted personnel is charged, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the 
Chairperson of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) or the Chief of the PNP shall 
authorize the legal office of their respective agencies, with the assistance of the Public 
Attorney’s Office, to provide free legal assistance to any officer or enlisted personnel of the 
AFP and the PNP for the purpose of the immediately preceding section. 
Section 3. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the effective implementation 
of this Act shall be sourced from the Legal Defense Fund funded through the General 
Appropriations Act. 
Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Public Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the AFP, 
NAPOLCOM and the PNP, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this 
Act. 
Section 5. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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