NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
SENATE 
681
S'Eiinif 
of t\)t
72 JUL18 A9:42
KlXEtVtD cY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Under the proposed measure, any enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of 
the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) facing charges before 
the prosecutor's office, court/s, administrative or any competent body, arising from 
an incident or incidents related to the performance of their official duty, to be entitled 
to free legal assistance.
The tasks and duties of the members of our military and police force require 
them to be in dangerous situations and positions. In the course of the performance 
of their duties to promote peace and order in our country, members of our Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are oftentimes 
accused of baseless charges. For them to perform their duties effectively without fear 
of any unwarranted litigation being launched against them, the State must do its part 
by providing free legal assistance to defend the innocence and rights of our men in 
uniform.


In this light, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended.
i -
SOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S'? naif
ot til?
'22 JUL 18 A9-42
SENATE 
S. No. 681
AHBVE08V;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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:
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 of incidents related to the performance of official duty shall be entitled
5 
to free legal assistance.
6 
Sec. 2. Within twenty four (24) hours from the official receipt of the information
7 
that the officer or enlisted personnel Is charged, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the
8 
Chairperson of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) or the Chief of the PNP
9 
shall authorize the legal office of their respective agencies, with the assistance of the
10 
Public Attorney's Office, to provide free legal assistance to any officer or enlisted
11 
personnel of the AFP and the PNP, for the purpose of the immediately preceding
12 
section.


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The 3mount necesssry for the effective
2 
implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the Legal Defense Fund funded
3 
through the General Appropriations Act.
4 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from
5 
the effectivity of this Act, the Public Attorney's Office, in coordination with the AFP,
6 
NAPOLCOM and the PNP, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement
7 
this Act.
8 
Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
9 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of 
10 general circulation.
Approved,