PAO chief slams PNP Surigao on red-tagging public lawyer

By Rio N. Araja

SHE castigated Col. Dennis Siruno, provincial police chief, emphasizing that the PAO is the principal law office of the government in extending free legal assistance to indigent clients in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases.

“We have all the laws that mandate the PAO to assist those in need of legal assistance, may they be the complainants or respondents in various cases, especially criminal offenses,” she said.

“Col. Dennis Siruno, please spare from red-tagging/profiling our PAO lawyer Carol Anne General, who is just doing her job pursuant to Republic Act No. 9406, the PAO Law, and RA 11479, the Anti Terrorism Act. Please read the laws,” she added.

Through her official Facebook page, she urged the public to support the PAO amid such red-tagging and profiling.

“My countrymen, followers, subscribers, clients and friends, let us protect all PAO lawyers who are doing their job as mandated by our laws,” Acosta said.

Under Section 30 of the Anti-Terror

Law, an individual who is accused or charged with any of the acts defined and penalized by the law and cannot afford a private counsel, “the law enforcement agent or military personnel concerned shall immediately contact the free legal assistance unit of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines or the PAO.”

“It shall be the duty of the free legal assistance unit of the IBP or PAO contacted to immediately visit the person detained and provide him/her with the legal aid,” the PAO chief said.

Lawyer Ingrid Rullon, PAO regional director, said the Surigao police regional office issued a statement to conduct an investigation on the profiling of the concerned PAO lawyer for providing legal assistance to members of the communist terrorist groups.

Gov’t housing program hits milestone with 100 new MOUs

THE Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH), a flagship program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has reached another milestone with over 100 memoranda of understanding with local government units, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar and Quezon Governor Angelina Tan led the signing of memoranda of understanding between the provincial government, including 31 municipalities, and the DHSUD.

The following day, Puerto Galera was added to the list after the signing between DHSUD and the local government. This brought to 123 the total number of MOUs signed with the LGUs since the 4PH program’s launch in September 2022.

The signing of MOU is the initial step in the 4PH program’s process of constructing and dispensing affordable, accessible, safe and resilient homes to targeted beneficiaries, especially the informal settler families and low-income earners.

“It warms my heart that LGU leaders throughout the country have thrown their support to the administration of the President through the DHSUD to truly provide our countrymen with homes they can safely and proudly live in,” Acuzar said.