Res Gestae
Free legal aid for the police
Our police will be left unaided no more.
In his memorandum dated February 10, 2006, the PNP Chief Arturo C Lomibao ordered the implementation of PNP Legal Assistance Program pursuant to Section 49, RA 6975, as amended by section 56, RA 8551 otherwise known as Philippine National Police Reform and Re-Organization Act of 1998, which provides that "the Secretary of Justice, the chairman of the Commission or the Chief of the PNP may authorize lawyers of their respective agencies to provide legal assistance to any member of the PNP who is facing before the prosecutor's office, the court or any competent body, a charge or charges arising from any incident which is related to the performance of his official duty xxx."
The fund to be used in the program will be coming from fees collected for notarial services which will be treated as PNP Trust Receipts and shall be deposited with the Land Bank of the Philippines. Thus, in the said memorandum, PNP Chief Lomibao ordered that effective January 1, 2006, all PNP contracts, whether for the procurement of supplies, materials, equipment or infrastructure projects, applications for the availment and enjoyment of privileges being regulated by the PNP pursuant to existing laws, such as PD 1866, as amended by RA No. 5487, as amended, etc., and other documents that should be notarized in connection with applications for entry in the PNP or for promotion, and other papers required by existing laws, rules and regulations to be notarized, shall be exclusively notarized by lawyers assigned with the Legal Service.
The implementation of this program will surely boost the morale of our police to do better their job. They will no longer fear the battle in court on cases filed against them which resulted from the performance of their duty.
Truly, it is a sad reality that our police often face charges for their efforts to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, and maintain peace and order. And worse, they are not entitled to any support - legal or financial, to comply with their court duties on account of their official functions.
It has been observed that in almost all law enforcement undertakings, the police will often get a complaint for irregularities - technical or otherwise. This reality intimidates most of our police to be more aggressive and to achieve greater accomplishments. Big accomplishment means banging one's head on "Big" people. And, these people can afford to hire best lawyers there are to spearhead their legal battles. What about the police? They are left at the mercy of our PAO lawyers who are attending to myriads of cases a day.
With these premises, when would we expect then our police to rise the ground of mediocrity? Without any support coming from the organization, the police will always be apprehensive to aspire for greater heights. Thus, the culture of complacency for little things!
Lomibao's order for the implementation of the PNP Legal Assistance Program is another milestone in his tutelage as the PNP Chief. Such will truly put substance to his objective of building stronger police station as it strengthens the will power of his men to fearlessly pursue the mission of the PNP organization.
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