PUBLIC ATTORNEYS OFFICE

CITIZENS CHARTER

PUBLIC ATTORNEYS OFFICE

CITIZENS CHARTER

MISSION
To provide free legal representation, assistance and counseling to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor and
administrative cases thereby giving realization to the constitutional mandate that free access to the courts and quasi-judicial
bodies and adequate legal assistance shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty (Sec 11, Article 3 of the 1987
Philippine Constitution).
VISION
The PAO envisions a God-centered, service oriented and dynamic institution that would be the center of excellence as the
principal law of the office of the government in extending free legal assistance to indigents led by highly competent, world class
development oriented and nationalistic leaders.
In support of its Mission and Vision, the PAO adheres to the following objectives and thrust:
To provide the indigent clients with free legal services;
To fulfill the constitutional guarantee of free access to courts, due process and equal protection of the law and the
rights of person under investigation for an alleged commission of an offense.

I.
a.

FRONTLINE SERVICES:
REGULAR JUDICIAL AND QUASI-JUDICIAL
1. Preparation Of Affidavits/ Representation Of Indigent Accused During Preliminary Investigation And Trial
2. Representation Of Indigent Complainant/Petitioner In Ordinary Civil Actions, Special Proceedings And Special Civil Actions
3. Representation Of Indigent Defendant/Respondent In Ordinary Civil Actions, Special Proceedings And Special Civil Actions
4. Representation Of Indigent Employee-Complainant In Labor Cases
5. Representation Of Indigent Persons On Administrative And Other Quasi-Judicial Cases

b.

NON JUDICIAL SERVICES

1. Preparation of affidavits, administration of oath and documentation
2. Legal Counseling
3. Mediation/Conciliation Services

c.

LEGAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

1. Assistance to persons undergoing police interrogation or persons under detention and inquest proceedings
2. Jail Visitations
3. Barangay outreach programs

d.

SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE

1. Regular Services
Monday to Friday
8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. without noon break
2. Emergency Services (inquest activities)
On call anytime of the day
3. Legal Advice (phone inquiry)
On call anytime of the day

HOW TO AVAIL OF THE REGULAR SERVICES OF PAO:

STEP
1.

2.

3.

4.

Applicant/Client

Service Provided

Register with the Public Assistance Desk The public assistance desk officer
officer about the nature of the requested shall evaluate the request and refer
legal assistance
the client to the officer of the day for
initial interview
Fill up the clients profile/interview sheet and
The officer of the day
narrate concern to the Handling Public shall interview the client and advice
Attorney
him/her of the legal remedy for his/her
query. The public attorney shall require
the client to submit evidence in support
of his/her case. The public attorney
shall also require the client to submit
proof of indigency
Client shall submit pertinent documents and
The assigned public
proof of indigency to the Handling Public attorney shall thoroughly evaluate the
Attorney for evaluation
merits of the case and advice the client
of the appropriate legal action. If the
client is is disqualified, the assigned
Public Attorney shall prepare the
denial/disqualification form
Client shall approach the Public Assistance
The clerk in charge
Desk officer to record his case and execute shall assign the control number if the
the affidavit of indigency
case and require the client to sign the
affidavit of indigency

Time Frame

Person-inCharge

5 mins

Public
Assistance
Desk Officer

Fees

Forms

Free of
charge under
R.A. No.
9406

As necessary

Officer of the
Day

Free of
charge under
R.A. No.
9406

Free of
charge under
R.A. No.
9406

Certificate of
indigency

As necessary

Handling Public
Attorney

As necessary

Clerk in Charge

Free of
charge under
R.A. No.
9406

Affidavit of
indigency

Clients
profile/Interv
iew sheet

5.

Client shall return to the Handling Public

The handling public
Attorney for further interview, evaluation of attorney shall assist in preparing the
the case, updates and submission of necessary pleadings /set the case for
additional documents, if necessary
hearing. The handling public attorney
shall inform the client of the schedule
of hearing and require the client to
appear in court in all the scheduled
hearings

________________________________

** Approximately

B. NON-JUDICIAL SERVICES
1. PREPARATION OF AFFIDAVITS, ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS AND DOCUMENTATION
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Monday to Friday
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. without NOON BREAK
WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE

As necessary

Handling Public
Attorney

Free of
charge under
R.A. No.
9406

1. Only INDIGENT CLIENT unless the Client is subject to existing PAO MOAs and pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 3 of RA 9406 and MC
18, Series of 2002.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
1. Community Tax Certificate for the Current year
2. Any Valid Identification Card
DURATION
30 Minutes**
HOW TO AVAIL OF THE REGULAR SERVICES:
STEP
APPLICANT/CLIENT
1

SERVICE PROVIDER

TIME
FRAME**

Register with the public assistance desk in Public assistance desk in charge will
charge and inform the desk officer about the determine the qualification of the client and if 5 minutes
qualified, assist in the execution of the
legal document needed.
document.
Fill up the form and thereafter submit it back to Verify the contents of the legal documents
together with the clients residence 5 minutes
the public assistance desk in charge.
Certificate or any valid I.D.
Wait at the designated waiting area until your Turn over the legal document to the public
name is called by the Public Assistance Desk in attorney/officer-of-the-day
for
the 10 minutes
charge/
administration of oath.

Release the requested document to the

client.

END OF TRANSACTION
** Approximately
2. LEGAL COUNSELLING
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Monday to Friday
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. without NOON BREAK

3 minutes

PERSON
ON CHARGE
Public
Assistance
Desk Officer
Public
Attorney/Officer
-of-the-Day
Public
Attorney/Officer
-of-the-Day
Clerk in charge

FEES
Free of
charge
under R.A.
No. 9406

FORM
NONE

WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE

Only INDIGENT CLIENT unless the Client is subject to existing PAO MOAs and pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 3 of RA 9406 and MC 18,
Series of 2002.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
Any Valid Identification Card
DURATION
30 Minutes**
HOW TO AVAIL OF THE REGULAR SERVICES:
STEP
APPLICANT/CLIENT
1

SERVICE PROVIDER

Register with the public assistance desk in Public assistance desk in charge shall
initially interview the client, determine the
charge and get a route slip.
problem and provide the route slip.

TIME
FRAME**
5 minutes

Fill up the form and thereafter submit it back to Verify the contents of the route slip and
turn-over the route slip to the Public 5 minutes
the public assistance desk in charge.
Attorney-officer of the day for signature.
Wait at the designated waiting area until your Call the name of the client on a first come,
name is called by the Public Assistance Desk in first served basis and refer the same to the 5 minutes
public attorney/officer-of-the-day for the
charge/
legal advice/counseling.
When the clients name is called, approach the The public attorney/officer-of-the-day will
table of the Public Attorney-officer of the day for give legal advice/opinion to the client
immediately
legal advice/counseling

END OF TRANSACTION

PERSON
ON CHARGE
Public
Assistance
Desk in Charge
Public
Assistance
Desk in Charge
Public
Assistance
Desk in Charge
Public Attorney
Officer of the
day

FEES
Free of
charge
under R.A.
No. 9406

FORM
NONE

3.

MEDIATION/CONCILIATION SERVICES
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Monday to Friday
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. without NOON BREAK

WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE

Only INDIGENT CLIENT unless the Client is subject to existing PAO MOAs and pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 3 of RA 9406 and MC 18, Series of 2002.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
Any Valid Identification Card
DURATION
One Hour**

HOW TO AVAIL OF THE SERVICE:

STEP
1

APPLICANT/CLIENT

SERVICE PROVIDER

Register with the public assistance desk in Public assistance desk in charge shall
charge and get a route slip.
initially interview the client, determine the
problem and provide the route slip.
Fill up the form and thereafter submit it back to Verify the contents of the route slip and
the public assistance desk in charge.
turn-over the route slip to the Public
Attorney-officer of the day for signature.
Wait at the designated waiting area until your Call the name of the client on a first
name is called by the Public Assistance Desk in come, first served basis and refer the
charge/
same to the public attorney/officer-of-theday for the legal advice/counseling.
When the clients name is called, approach the The public attorney/officer-of-the-day will
table of the Public Attorney-officer of the day for evaluate and determine if the legal
legal advice/counseling
problem is for proper mediation; If not
proper, prepare denial form; If proper for
mediation, prepare a letter invitation to
the adverse party.
Set the date for mediation/conciliation and
advice the client to appear during the
scheduled date. Dispose the case within
the month, after three unsuccessful
mediation/conciliation
sessions.
Otherwise, prepare the compromise
agreement/settlement
if
the
mediation/conciliation is successful.
END OF TRANSACTION

________________________________
** Approximately

TIME
FRAME**
5 minutes

5 minutes

5 minutes

PERSON
ON CHARGE
Public
Assistance
Desk in Charge
Public
Assistance
Desk in Charge
Public
Assistance
Desk in Charge

15 minutes

Public Attorney
Officer of the
day

30 days

Public Attorney
Officer of the
day

FEES
Free of
charge
under R.A.
No. 9406

FORM
Route
slip

C. LEGAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES (LIMITED AND PROVISIONAL)

1. ASSISTANCE OF SUSPECT/RESPONDENT UNDER CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION AND INQUEST INVESTIGATION
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Monday to Sunday
ANYTIME OF THE DAY AND NIGHT
WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE
1. Only indigent suspect/respondent who is under custodial interrogation; or
2. Other persons, upon request of proper government authorities to render such service (as mentioned in No. 1) subject to existing laws, rules
and regulations and pursuant to sec. 3 of RA 9406.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
1. Copy of Waiver and Request for Preliminary Investigation and Waiver of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code
2. Police investigation report/case report
3. Sworn Statement/Affidavits Of Witnesses
4. Other Documentary Evidence For The Prosecution
5. Such other documents as maybe required by the handling lawyer
DURATION
1 hour and 15 minutes**

HOW TO AVAIL OF THE SERVICE:

STEP

APPLICANT/CLIENT

SERVICE PROVIDER

Any person who is arrested without a warrant for

a crime or any member of his family may request
for assistance of a Public Attorney from the
nearest PAO district office during custodial
investigation or inquest proceedings.
During interview, inform the Inquest Public
Attorney of the Circumstances of his arrest and
detention.

The duty of the inquest public attorney shall immediately

assist the suspect/respondent or person arrested without a
warrant and is subject of custodial interrogation and inquest
investigation.

The duty of the inquest public attorney shall confer with the
client privately and inform his/her rights under the law in a
language or dialect known to him/her.

Based from the facts narrated by the suspect and on the

documents prepared by the police, the inquest Public
Attorney shall determine the legality of the arrest or
detention of the suspect.
Inform the assisting Public Attorney whether
he/she wishes to execute a waiver under Article
125 of the Revised Penal Code, after being
informed of his/her rights, the remedies available
and the consequences thereof.

If the arrest detention is illegal, the inquest public attorney

shall demand for the release of the suspect/respondent
from the custody of the police.
If the arrest detention is legal, the inquest public attorney
shall explain to the suspect/respondent whether he/she
wishes to request a preliminary investigation and execute a
waiver of Article 125 of the revised penal code and explain
to him/her the nature and consequences of the waiver if
he/she signed the same.

Sign the waiver only after being fully informed of After the execution of the waiver of Article 125 of the RPC,
the consequences thereof and is should be the inquest public attorney shall make the available
voluntary.
schedule in the preparation of the counter affidavit and that
of his/her witnesses, if there is any.

TIME
FRAME
**

PERSON
ON
CHARGE

FEES

FORM

2
minutes

Duty
Inquest
Public
Attorney

None

None

2-3
minutes

Duty
Inquest
Public
Attorney

None

None

2
minutes

Duty
Inquest
Public
Attorney

None

None

3
minutes

Duty
Inquest
Public
Attorney

None

None

3
minutes

Duty
Inquest
Public

None

None

Attorney

Appear before the assisting Public Attorney for Assist in the preparation of the counter affidavit of the
the preparation and execution of his counter- person undergoing inquest proceeding and that of his/her
affidavit and those of his witnesses.
witnesses if any, and submit the same with the Prosecution
Office.
END OF TRANSACTION

________________________________
** Approximately

FEEDBACK FORM
(Pananaw o Puna)
Please let us know how we have served you. You may use this form for compliments, complaints or suggestions. Simply check the corresponding box.
Ipaalam po ninyo sa amin kung paano naming kayo napaglingkuran. Maaring gamitin ito para sa papuri, reklamo, o mungkahi. Mangyaring I-tsek lamang ang kahong naayon.

COMPLIMENT
(Papuri)

COMPLAINT

SUGGESTION

(Reklamo)

(Mungkahi)

Person(s)/Unit/Office Concerned or Involved: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

(Mga) tao/pangkat/tanggapan na may kinalaman sa ( ) papuri ( ) reklamo ( ) mungkahi
Facts or Details surrounding the Incident:
(Kaganapan o detalye na bumabalot sa pangyayari)

(Please use additional sheet/s if necessary)

(Mangyaring gumamit ng karagdagang papel king kinakailangan)

Recommendation(s)/ Suggestion(s)/Desired Action from our Office

(Please use additional sheet/s if necessary)
(Rekomendasyon/Mungkahi/Nais na aksyon mula sa aming tanggapan) (Mangyaring gumamit ng karagdagang papel king kinakailangan)

Name (OPTIONAL):_______________________________________________________
(Pangalan)

Office.Agency:_____________________________________________________
(Tanggapan/Ahensiya)

Address:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Tirahan)
Contact No(s) (if any): ____________________________________________________
(Telepono)

E-mail Address (if any): _____________________________________________

Signature (Lagda):_______________________________________________________

Date (Petsa): _____________________________________________________)