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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representative PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The responsibility to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of 
national territory and to maintain peace and order in our communities is primarily 
undertaken by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National 
Police (PNP), respectively. As the protector of the State and of the Filipino people, 
both have consistently bolstered their efforts to effectively address insurgency and 
criminality in the country. 
With the perils associated with their work, our military and police force ought 
to have free and competent legal counsel to ensure that they are also protected. Thus, 
this measure seeks to provide free legal assistance on any office or enlisted personnel 
of the AFP and the PNP on any charge before the prosecutor's office, court or any 
competent body arising from an incident related to the performance of official duty.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  
PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
August 12, 2021
12:37 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
3rd Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative PAOLO Z. DUTERTE 
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 RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Free Legal Assistance Act for 
Enlisted Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National 
Police.” 
SEC. 2. 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 in relation to the performance of their official duty shall be 
entitled to free legal assistance. 
SEC. 3. 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. 
SEC. 4.  The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall 
be sourced from the Legal Defense Fund funded through the General Appropriations 
Act. 
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SEC. 5. 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. 
 
SEC. 6. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,