Dear eFOI user,
Ito ay may kaugnayan sa inyong FOI request na may petsang 17 February 2025 na humihingi ng payong legal.
Para sa inyong kaalaman, ang mandato ng aming opisina ay “i-representa ng walang bayad ang mga maralita at iba pang mga taong kwalipikado para sa serbisyong legal, sa lahat ng kasong sibil, kriminal, paggawa, administratibo at ng iba pang mala-hukuman na kaso (quasi-judicial cases), kung saan matapos ang masusing pag-aaral ay matutukoy na ang interes ng hustisya ay mapagsisilbihan.” [1]
Upang makapagbigay ng angkop na payong legal sa inyong idinudulog na problema, mas makabubuti kung kayo ay sumangguni sa isang abogado nang makita niya ang mga dokumento o marinig ang mga salaysay patungkol sa inyong suliranin. Subalit, maaari rin kayong matulungan ng aming Tanggapan kung inyong mapapatunayan na kayo ay kuwalipikadong makatanggap ng aming libreng serbisyong legal.
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 2021 Revised PAO Operations Manual.
Para sa Indigency Test, kinakailangan na ang individual net income ay hindi hihigit sa mga sumusunod:
“1. If residing in cities or municipalities within the National Capital Region (NCR), persons whose individual net income does not exceed Twenty-four Thousand Pesos (₱24,000.00) a month;
- If residing in other cities outside the NCR, persons whose individual net income does not exceed Twenty-two Thousand Pesos (₱22,000.00) a month; and
- If residing in municipalities outside the NCR, persons whose individual net income does not exceed Twenty Thousand Pesos (₱20,000.00) 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 basic income of the litigant less statutory and authorized deductions.
“Statutory deductions” shall refer to withholding taxes, Government Services Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS), PAG-IBIG, Health Insurance and PhilHealth premiums, loan amortizations, and other deductions of similar nature, duly supported by written contracts.
“Authorized deductions” shall be understood to include all deductions as reflected in the pay slip, as well as 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.
In case the client derives income from activities and transactions where no employer-employee relationship exists, net income shall refer to gross income less allowable deductions as defined under Sections 32 and 34 of the National Internal Revenue Code and related issuances.
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.” [2]
Upang makasiguro na tanging ang mga kuwalipikadong kliyente lamang ang siyang mabibigyan ng aming libreng serbisyong legal, kinakailangan na 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
- Certificate of Indigency from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, or the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant; or
- Certificate of Indigency and/or No Income from the Office of the Punong Barangay / Barangay Chairperson having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant.”
Public Attorneys and personnel shall exercise prudence in ascertaining the indigency qualification of an applicant to avoid suspicion of assisting disqualified clients.” [3]
Samantala, ang Merit Test naman ay ang pagsusuri sa tibay ng kaso base sa mga ebidensya at sa mga itinakda ng ating batas.[4]
Kung kayo ay kuwalipikado para sa aming libreng serbisyong legal alinsunod sa mga batayan na nabanggit sa itaas, maaari kayong magtungo sa aming Tanggapan na kadalasang matatagpuan sa Hall of Justice ng bawat siyudad o munisipalidad na malapit sa inyong tirahan. Dalhin ang mga dokumentong may kaugnayan sa inyong suliranin at alinmang katibayan para sa inyong Indigency Test.
Maaari rin kayong tumawag sa aming Opisina sa mga sumusunod na numero: (02) 8929-9436, (02) 84262801, (02) 84262459, o (02) 84262987.
Lubos na gumagalang,
FOI Officer
Public Attorneys Office
[1] Article 1, Chapter II, 2021 Revised PAO Operations Manual
[2] Article 3, Chapter II, 2021 Revised PAO Operations Manual
[3] Article 3, Chapter II, 2021 Revised PAO Operations Manual
[4] Article 2, Chapter II, 2021 Revised PAO Operations Manual
