MANILA – The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) chapters can now expand legal services to the poor and indigents with the support of local government units (LGUs) following a clarification by the Commission on Audit (COA) on such partnerships.
COA chair Michael Aguinaldo, in a letter dated July 28, noted that some LGUs expressed their desire to forge partnerships with IBP chapters for legal aid programs that will be accessible to indigent clients but were concerned about conflicts that may arise.
Aguinaldo clarified that legal aid for the poor is not among the services covered by the prohibition under COA Circular No. 98-002 on the employment by LGUs of private lawyers.
"This is not the case in the proposed agreement. The legal services shall be provided to indigent and poor constituents of the LGU and not to the LGU concerned," he said.
The COA, however, stressed that the terms and conditions of the proposed agreements between LGUs and IBP chapters "should clearly specify the respective roles and responsibilities of the IBP chapters and the LGUs, including the type and purpose of the assistance".
Any disbursement of public funds of the LGUs arising from such agreements are subject to post-audit, the commission added.
"This is will surely expand the capacity of the IBP chapter(s) to provide free legal aid to the poor and/or indigent constituents of the municipality, city or province," IBP national president Burt Estrada said in a statement on Friday. (PNA)
