Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
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. 
  REP. DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
1st District, Zamboanga Del Sur 
August 16, 2021
8:37 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third  Regular Session 
House Bill No. _____ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE DIVINA GRACE C. YU 
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 
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 Attorneys 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.  
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Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Public Attorneys 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.