Scribd
Upload
15 views

POA Reviewer

POA Reviewer

Uploaded by

jveloso
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
15 views

POA Reviewer

POA Reviewer

Uploaded by

jveloso
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

2016 REVISED PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE OPERATIONS MANUAL

CHAPTER I PURPOSE - This Manual sets forth, defines and consolidates the policies, rules, issuances and
procedures to be observed by PAO lawyers and employees in the handling, recording and reporting of
cases and in rendering other forms of legal services to indigents and other persons qualified for free
legal assistance.

CHAPTER II CLIENTELE ARTICLE 1. Persons Qualified for Legal Assistance. Public Attorney’s Office is
mandated to represent, free of charge, indigents, and other persons qualified for legal assistance in all
civil, criminal, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases where, after due evaluation, it is
determined that the interest of justice will be served thereby.

PAO may be called upon by the proper government authorities to render such service to other
persons, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. Other persons refer to non-indigents who have a
case or cases which: a.) entail national interest and security as may be determined by the Chief Public
Attorney, pursuant to his/her authority under Republic Act No. 9406; b.) urgent cases that may need
immediate action to avoid injustice.

ARTICLE 2. Merit Test. an assessment of the law and evidence on hand, discloses that the legal services
of the office will assist, be in aid of, or be in the furtherance of justice, taking into consideration the
interests of the party and those of the society.

unmeritorious, if it appears that it has no chance of success, is intended merely to harass or injure the
opposite party, or to work oppression or wrong. In such situations, the Public Attorney must decline
the case.

Exception to the unmeritorious scenario = if the indigent client is the defendant or respondent in a
civil or administrative case already filed in any court or quasi-judicial agency, notwithstanding the
determination as to the merit of the case, the Public Attorney shall still represent or extend legal
assistance to the client, in order to protect his rights.

A Public Attorney may represent an indigent client even if his cause of action is adverse to a public
officer, government office, agency or instrumentality, provided the case is meritorious. The office be
not exposed to charges of harassment, unfairness or haste in the filing of suits.

In criminal cases, the accused enjoys the constitutional presumption of innocence until the contrary is
proven; hence, cases of defendants in criminal actions are always considered meritorious.

You might also like