Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representatives Samier Abubakar Tan and 
Shernee A. Tan-Tambut 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Too often than not, the spirits of the military and the uniformed 
personnel are dampened by the barrage of cases filed against them by 
reason of or in connection with the performance of their office or 
function.  This resulted to unnecessary psychological and financial 
burden on the part of the military and the uniformed personnel 
considering the cost of competent legal representation.  The state 
should assist the military and the uniformed personnel during these 
trying times by providing them free access to competent legal service.  
Through this act, the undersigned proponents intends to fill this need of 
our the military and the uniformed personnel. 
Samier Abubakar Tan 
 Shernee A. Tan-Tambut 
March 1, 2023
10:51 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by Representatives Samier Abubakar Tan and 
Shernee A. Tan-Tambut 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY 
OFFICER 
OR 
UNIDFORMED 
PERSONNEL 
OF 
THE 
AFP, 
BFP,BJMP,PCG,AND PNP FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, CIVIL OR 
CRIMINAL CASES FILED AGAINST THEM BEFORE ANY COURT, 
QUASI-JUDICIAL OR ANY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES BY 
REASON OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF 
THEIR OFFICE OR FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR. 
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  the Military and other Uniformed Personnel Act”. 
SECTION 2.  DECLARATION OF POLICY.  It is the policy of the 
state to protect the rights and dignity of every citizen.  This protection 
shall also extend to public officers and employees particularly those 
charged with defending the constitution and the sovereignty of the 
state, enforcement of the laws, maintenance of peace and order and 
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ensuring the safety of the people.  Further, the right of the people 
charged with any case to be presumed innocent shall be respected 
including the military and the uniformed personnel.  To this end, the 
state shall provide free and readily available legal assistance to the 
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire 
Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Philippine 
Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police in all stages of 
administrative, civil or criminal cases filed against them by reason or in 
connection with the performance of their office or function. 
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS.  The following shall be 
understood within the context of this act: 
 
3.1 MUP -- military and other uniformed personnel of the 
AFP, BFP,BJMP,PCG,AND PNP.  
 
3.2  Cases – refers to administrative, civil or criminal cases 
filed against the MUP by reason or in connection with the performance 
of their office or function. 
SECTION 4. LEGAL SERVICE.  There shall be created a Civilian 
Legal Office each for AFP, BFP,BJMP,PCG,AND PNP for the sole purpose 
of maintaining a pool of lawyers in order to properly defend the officers 
and uniformed personnel . 
 
4.1 There shall be a Chief Attorney for each Legal Office who 
shall be assisted by Provincial Attorney for each Provincial Police Office. 
 
4.2 The Provincial Attorney shall be assigned three assisting 
lawyers for each of the district offices of the AFP, BFP,BJMP,PCG,AND 
PNP whenever practicable. 
 
4.3 For the National Capital Region, there shall be a Regional 
Attorney who shall be assisted by a three district attorneys for each 
Police Districts in the NCR 
 
4.4  The qualifications, rank, salaries and privileges of the 
of the lawyers of civilian Legal Office shall equivalent to the Regional 
Director, District attorney and public attorney of the Public Attorney’s 
Office. 


SECTION 5.  GRANT OF FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE.  Any 
officer or uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP,BJMP,PCG,AND PNP who 
was charged with administrative, civil or criminal case by reason of or 
in connection with the performance of their office or function shall be 
automatically assisted by the lawyer from their respective civilian legal 
office upon referral of the said cases to them. 
SECTION 6. STRENGTHENING OF THE CIVILIAN LEGAL 
OFFICE.  Within 60 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 PNP shall submit to the 
Department of Budget and Management the revised organizational 
structure and staffing patterns for their respective legal offices 
necessary to render competitive legal assistance for their officers and 
uniformed personnel.  The DBM shall act in accordance with Republic 
Act 6713 and Republic Act 11032. 
SECTION  7.  APPLICABILITY TO EXISTING AND PENDING 
CASES.  The benefits created under this act shall be available to pending 
administrative, civil or criminal cases filed against the military and other 
uniformed personnel under the same conditions. 
SECTION 8. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATION.   
Within 60 days from the effectivity of this act, the DBM, DND, DILG and 
DOTr in coordination with 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 PNP shall issue the uniform implementing rules and regulation to 
implement this act. 
SECTION 9.  APPROPRIATIONS.  The amount necessary to 
carry out this act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 10.  SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.  Should any provision 
of this Act be declared invalid, the remaining provision which are not 
affected and which can stand on its own shall continue to be in force 
and effect. 
SECTION 11.  REPEALING CLAUSE.  All laws, rules, regulations, 
decrees, orders and issuances or any part thereof which are inconsistent 
herewith are repealed or modified accordingly. 


SECTION 12.  EFFECTIVITY.  This act shall take effect fifteen 
days (15) after its publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper 
of general circulation whichever comes first. 
Approved,