PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta (Screengrab from Persida Rueda-Acosta Facebook page)
MANILA – Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta on Monday said the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) will be at the front of efforts by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in fostering a compassionate society.
“This year, we feel that all the efforts of our public attorneys and the whole agency of PAO are being appreciated by the new administration of H.E. (His Excellency) President BBM (Bongbong Marcos),” Acosta said at the opening of the national convention of PAO lawyers for their Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Monday.
This is the first national convention of PAO lawyers in two years after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Acosta commended the efforts of the more than 2,000 public defenders in celebration of the agency's 50th anniversary this October.
“Notably during the height of the pandemic, without them (PAO lawyers), it would be impossible to serve 6,687,630 clients in 2020 and 9,707,274 clients in 2021,” she said.
She said PAO lawyers represented clients in 752,196 cases in 2020 and 787,174 in 2021 with a high rate of positive disposition of cases.
“Now evidently, the PBBM administration reaches out with compassion to the PDLs (persons deprived of liberty). Hence I am hopeful that before the year 2022 ends many of them will be freed and will be prepared fully for rehabilitation and reintegration,” Acosta said.
The Department of Justice is working on a target date for the release of qualified PDLs on October 25.
“As to the number of PDLs to be released, we hope that we could surpass the 371 PDLs that we were able to set free last September 13, 2022,” Acosta said.
She noted that the PAO has also agreed to represent more qualified litigants under the supplemental pact with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) signed on Sept. 19.
The supplemental memorandum of agreement will address women and their children under Republic Act 9262 especially those related to financial support failing under “economic abuse” and who initially sought the assistance of the DSWD. (PNA)
