Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY OFFICER OR 
ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD, 
THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, AND THE 
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION  ON ANY CHARGE OR CASE BEFORE 
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURT, OR ANY COMPETENT BODY 
ARISING FROM AN INCIDENT OR INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE 
PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The constitutional guarantee of due process of law contained in the very first clause of 
the Bill of Rights requires that the state provide legal assistance to its citizens.1 
Our uniformed personnel carry the responsibility of protecting society from threats both 
foreign and domestic. This places them at a significant risk of legal exposure when they 
carry out the responsibilities associated with their respective roles. 
The enormous cost of litigation, carried by our uniformed personnel, places them at a 
disadvantage and could even encourage corruption. Several officers who had to deal 
with civil, criminal, or administrative charges for things they did in the course of their 
work reported being at the mercy of loan sharks at one point or another. 
Moreover, the mere possibility of legal peril, or simply the risk of it, might cause our 
uniformed personnel to second-guess or hesitatingly carry out their duties, or even result 
in the unequal application of the law. Apparently, this puts the State at a disadvantage. 
1 The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article III, Section 1, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or 
property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.” 
November 15, 2022
10:45 am
6135


This proposed legislation aims to enhance the institutions that preserve and defend the 
liberties guaranteed by our fundamental law. Towards this end, legal assistance shall be 
granted to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National 
Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and 
the Bureau of Fire Protection, and a Legal Fund is established. 
In light of the foregoing, ug sa ngalan sa Serbisyong Tinuoray, the 19th Congress should 
approve this bill. 
CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT PROVIDING FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY OFFICER OR 
ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD, 
THE BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY, AND THE 
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION  ON ANY CHARGE OR CASE BEFORE 
THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, COURT, OR ANY COMPETENT BODY 
ARISING FROM AN INCIDENT OR INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE 
PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Free Legal Assistance to 
1 
Uniformed Personnel Act." 
2 
SEC. 2. Free Legal Assistance to Uniformed Personnel. —  Any officer or enlisted 
3 
personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine 
4 
National Police (PNP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of Jail 
5 
Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), 
6 
who is facing before the prosecutor's office, court, administrative or any 
7 
competent body, any charge arising from an incident or incidents related to 
8 
the performance of official duty shall be entitled to free legal assistance. 
9 
Legal assistance shall include: 
10 
(a) Legal consultation or advice; 
11 
(b) Preparation of pleadings, motions, and other pertinent legal 
12 
instruments and documents and the notarization thereof, if 
13 
necessary; and 
14 
(c) Legal representation. 
15 
SEC. 3. Authorization. —  Within twenty four (24) hours from the official receipt of 
16 
the information that the officer or enlisted personnel is charged, the Secretary 
17 
6135


of Justice, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the Secretary 
18 
of Transportation, the Chief of Staff of the AFP, the Chairperson of the 
19 
National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) or the Chief of the PNP, the 
20 
Commandant of the PCG, the Chief of the BJMP, and the Chief of the BFP 
21 
shall authorize any lawyer or lawyers of their respective agencies to provide 
22 
free legal assistance to any officer or enlisted personnel of the AFP, PNP, PCG, 
23 
BJMP, and the BFP for the purpose of the immediately preceding section. 
24 
SEC. 4. Appropriations. —  The amount necessary for the effective implementation 
25 
of this Act shall be sourced from the Legal Defense Fund funded through the 
26 
General Appropriations Act. 
27 
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —  Within sixty (60) days from the 
28 
effectivity of this Act, the DOJ, in coordination with the DILG, DoTr, AFP, 
29 
NAPOLCOM, PNP, PCG, BJMP, and BFP shall issue the necessary rules and 
30 
regulations to implement this Act.  
31 
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. —  If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
32 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
33 
other provisions hereof.  
34 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and 
35 
regulations, and other issuances or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are 
36 
henceforth repealed or modified accordingly.  
37 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the 
38 
Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
39 
Approved, 
40