Public Attorneys Office(PAO)

September 16, 2019 Dear Kim Aguillon, Greetings! Para sa inyong kaalaman, ang mandato ng aming opisina ay “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.” Upang maging mas malinaw ang aming gagawing pagpapayo hinggil sa inyong mga katanungan, iminumungkahi namin na kayo ay magsadya sa aming Tanggapan na kadalasang matatagpuan sa Hall of Justice ng bawat siyudad o munisipalidad na malapit sa inyong tirahan upang personal ninyong makausap ang aming abogado at kayo ay matulungan sa inyong idinudulog. Dalhin lamang ang mga dokumentong may kaugnayan sa inyong suliranin. Ang mga kuwalipikasyon bago matanggap bilang kliyente ng PAO ay ang Indigency at Merit Tests alinsunod sa Republic Act No. 9406, o ang PAO Law, kaugnay sa 2016 Revised PAO Operations Manual. Para sa Indigency Test, kinakailangan na ang inyong individual net income ay hindi hihigit sa mga sumusunod: 1. If residing in Metro Manila, whose individual net income does not exceed P14,000.00 a month; 2. If residing in other cities, whose individual net income does not exceed P13,000.00 a month; and 3. If residing in all other places, whose individual net income does not exceed P12,000.00 a month. The term income shall not include the pension received by retirees. The term “net income” as herein employed shall be understood to refer to the income of the litigant less statutory and authorized deductions. “Statutory deductions” shall refer to withholding taxes, GSIS, SSS, Pag-Ibig, Health Insurance and Philhealth premiums; and other loan amortizations duly supported by written contracts. Authorized deductions shall be understood to include all deductions as reflected in the pay slip, other deductions with the expressed written consent of the employee and in agreement with the employer, and all other deductions that can be substantiated by the employee. For purposes of this Section, ownership of land shall not, per se, constitute a ground for disqualification of an applicant for free legal assistance, in view of the ruling in Juan Enaje vs. Victorio Ramos, et al. (G.R. No. L-22109, January 30, 1970) that the determinative factor for indigency is the income of the litigant and not his ownership of real property. Upang makasiguro na tanging ang mga kuwalipikadong kliyente lamang ang siyang mabibigyan ng aming libreng serbisyong legal, kinakailangan na kayo ay magsumite ng Affidavit of Indigency at ng alinman sa mga sumusunod: “(1) Latest Income Tax Return or pay slip or other proofs of income; or (2) Certificate of Indigency from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, its local District Office, or the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of the place where you are residing; or (3) Certificate of Indigency from the Barangay Chairman having jurisdiction over your place of residence. PAO lawyers and personnel shall exercise diligence in ascertaining the indigency qualification of said applicant/s.” Samantala, ang Merit Test naman ay ang pagsusuri sa tibay ng isang kaso base sa mga ebidensya at sa mga itinakda ng ating batas. Maraming salamat sa inyong pagliham.