SERVICE TO INDIGENTS. Public Attorney's Office 1 (Ilocos Region) officer in charge, lawyer Cristina Reyes, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum in San Fernando City, La Union on Tuesday (Aug. 27, 2024). She said the agency has provided judicial services to about 5,375 indigent individuals from January to June this year. (Photo courtesy of PIA Ilocos Region's live stream)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) has assisted about 5,375 indigents in the Ilocos Region from January to June this year.
PAO 1 (Ilocos Region) officer in charge, lawyer Cristina Jenny Reyes, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency - Ilocos on Tuesday, said assistance for criminal cases accounted for the bulk of the free legal representation they provided in the first half this year at 4,555, followed by civil cases, 327; and administrative cases, 493.
She said among the common cases handled by their 134 lawyers are issues on debts, financial support to children, and land disputes.
She said 4,695 of these cases gained favorable disposition, which means the cases were either dismissed or there were acquittals, and granted demurrer for evidence, either permanent or probation.
Of these, 4,126 were criminal cases, 209 were civil cases, and 360 were administrative cases.
Aside from judicial services, PAO also offered quasi-judicial services or mediation/conciliation for individuals whose cases were not yet filed in court.
“This service aims to bring together the involved parties to discuss their differences and assist them in developing a mutually agreeable and beneficial solution to their dispute,” she said.
Under quasi-judicial services, 383 were settled while 18 were closed without settlement.
Reyes said PAO also offers other non-judicial services, such as legal counseling and administration of oaths.
About 24,000 individuals in the region have availed of legal counseling from PAO in the first half of the year, she added. (PNA)
