Military and uniformed personnel (MUP) facing service-related criminal, civil, or administrative cases are now entitled to free legal assistance under a newly signed law.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on April 15 signed Republic Act No. 12177, also known as the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act, which aims to alleviate the financial burden on MUPs who would otherwise need to hire private lawyers.
RA 12177 guarantees that personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and other uniformed services are entitled to free legal assistance for cases arising from their official duties.
Under the law, free legal assistance for MUPs includes legal representation in criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings, legal advice, preparation of legal documents, and coverage of court fees.
The law applies to active-duty personnel and extends to retired, honorably discharged, and separated officers for cases that originated during their time in service.
Additionally, the law requires each agency’s legal office to assess whether a case is service-related and to provide prompt legal aid.
Meanwhile, in cases of conflict of interest, legal aid will be withheld to protect the integrity of the legal process, avoid adversely affecting the agency’s interests, and ensure personnel are not vulnerable to frivolous or retaliatory lawsuits.
The law also mandates that agencies like the PNP and AFP strengthen their in-house legal teams and submit revised structures based on the ideal ratio of legal officers to uniformed personnel.
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