Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the Republic of the Philippines , It is hereby a declared the policy of the State to 
uplift the standards of legal assistance in order to prepare Military and Uniformed 
Personnel (MUP) for advocacy, counselling, problem-solving, and decision-making, 
to infuse in them the ethics of the legal profession; to impress on them the 
importance, nobility and dignity of the legal profession as an equal and 
indispensable partner of the Bench in the administration of justice and to develop 
social competence. 
Towards this end, the State shall undertake appropriate programs in the form of 
legal assistance, require proper selection, maintain quality, and continuing legal 
support. 
This House Bill seeks to rationalize the standards and provide free legal assistance 
and services for our Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) in the performance of 
their duties without fear and punishment. 
Earnest approval of this bill is hereby requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 
August 30, 2022
11:02 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY MILITARY OR 
UNIFORMED PERSONNEL OF THE (AFP), (BFP), (BJMP), 
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), AND THE (PNP), FACING ANY 
CHARGES BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURT OR 
ANY JUDICIAL BODY ARISING FROM AN INCIDENT IN RELATION 
TO 
THE 
PERFORMANCE 
OF 
THEIR 
OFFICIAL 
DUTY, 
APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS 
THEREFOR, 
AND 
FOR 
OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known as the "Free Legal 
Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act of 2022" 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. It is the declared policy of the 
State to protect the dignity and rights of its citizens, including those 
responsible for upholding the Constitution, defending the sovereignty of the 
country and its territory against all enemies, enforcing the laws of the land, 
preventing crimes, and maintaining peace and order. To this end, the State 
shall provide free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel 
(MUP), including officers and uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of 
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the Philippines (AFP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Bureau of 
Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), 
and the Philippine National Police (PNP), in all stages of criminal, civil, or 
administrative proceedings arising from service-related incidents. 
 
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. — As 
used in this Act: 
 
(a) Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) refers to officers, 
enlisted personnel, and uniformed personnel of the AFP, BF, 
BJMP, CG, and PNP. 
 
(b) Semi-Related Cases refer to civil, criminal, and administrative 
cases filed against MUP involving service-related incidents. Semi-
Related Incident refers to any act or omission committed by MUP 
in good faith that is the consequence of the discharge of their 
official functions of the performance of their duties, or that is 
relevant to their office or to the discharge of their official 
functions. 
 
SECTION 4. QUALIFICATIONS FOR FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN 
CASES INVOLVING SERVICE-RELATED INCIDENTS. — Any officer or 
uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP facing before a 
prosecutor's office, court, administrative body, or any competent body or 
tribunal, any criminal, civil of administrative charge or case involving 
service-related incidents shall be entitled to free legal assistance as provided 
in this Act. 
 
Officers or uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP who 
have been granted free legal assistance shall continue to enjoy such legal 
assistance even after their retirement from service. Retired officers or 
uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP shall also be 
given free legal assistance for cases or charges involving service-related 
incidents committed by such retired officers or uniformed personnel while 
still in active duty. 
 


 
SECTION 5. PROCEDURE AND COVERAGE. — Within twenty-four (24) 
hours from the official receipt of the information that officer or uniformed 
personnel the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, Of PNP is charged, the Chief of Staff 
of the AFP, the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the Commandant 
of the PCG, or the Chief of the PNP, shall authorize their respective legal 
offices to provide free legal assistance to such officer or uniformed 
personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP as provided in this Act. 
 
The free legal assistance shall include the following legal services: 
 
(1) Legal representation in all stages of civil, criminal or 
administrative cases Involving service-related incidents; 
 
(2) Legal advice or consultations in relation to service-related 
cases or incidents; 
 
(3) Preparation of pleadings, motions, memoranda, and all other 
legal forms and 36 documents in relation to service-related cases; 
(4) Notarization of documents in relation to service-related cases; 
and 
 
(5) All other legal services and tasks as directed by the Chief of 
Staff of the AFP, the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the 
Commandant of the PCG, or the Chief of the PNP. 
 
SECTION 6. STRENGTHENING OF THE LEGAL OFFICES OF THE 
AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG and PNP: 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chief of Staff of 
the AFP, the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the Commandant of 
the PCG, and the Chief of the PNP shall submit to the Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM) the revised staffing patterns of their respective 
legal offices necessary for adequate and effective free legal assistance to 
MUP as provided in this Act.  
 
The DBM shall act on the submissions within sixty (60) days from receipt 
thereof. 
 


 
SECTION 7. ENTITLEMENT OF GOVERNMENT LAWYER TO PAYMENT 
FOR EXPENSES: 
Subject to availability of funds and usual government accounting and 
auditing requirements, the government lawyer so designated to provide 
legal assistance to an officer of uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, 
PCG, Of PNP shall be entitled to payment of actual travel and other 
expenses, including honoraria per appearance, as may be authorized to be 
paid by the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the 
BJMP, the Commandant of the PCG, or the Chief of the PNP. 
 
SECTION 8. APPEARANCE OF PRIVATE COUNSEL. Subject to existing 
circulars of the Commission on Audit, rules and regulations, an officer or 
uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP may, in the 
interest of justice, be provided with private counsel at the expense of the 
government when necessary, as determined by the Chief of Staff of the AFP, 
the Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the Commandant of the PCG, 
or the Chief of the PNP. 
 
SECTION 9. APPLICABILITY TO PENDING CASES. This Act shall also 
apply to all officers and uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, 
or PNP who have pending cases before the prosecutor's office, the courts, 
or any quasi-judicial or administrative body involving service-related 
incidents. 
 
SECTION 10. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. Within sixty 
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretaries of the Department 
of Budget and Management(DBM) , Department of National Defense (DND), 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department 
of Transportation (DOTr), in coordination with Chief of Staff of the AFP, the 
Chief of the BFP, the Chief of the BJMP, the Commandant of the PCG, and 
the Chief of the PNP, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement this Act. 


 
SECTION 11. APPROPRIATIONS. — The amount necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 
SECTION 12. PERIODIC REPORTS - The Department of Justice (DOJ) shall 
submit periodic reports on its findings and make recommendations on actions 
to be taken by Congress and Senate and the appropriate department. 
SECTION 13. AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years after the 
effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be 
appointed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) shall review the policies and 
programs and shall make recommendations, based on its findings, to the 
President and to both Houses of Congress. 
 
SECTION 14. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. — Should any provision of this Act 
be declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue to be in force and 
effect. 
 
SECTION 15. REPEALING CLAUSE. — Section 49 of Republic Act No. 
6975, otherwise known as the "Department of the Interior and Local 
Government Act of 1990", as amended, is hereby repealed. All other laws, 
decrees, orders, rules, regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 16. EFFECTIVITY. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,