PAO vows to abide by SC decision on CPRA ‘conflict of interest’ issue

By Rio N. Araja

THE Public Attorney’s Offi ce on Thursday vowed to adhere with the Supreme Court (SC) resolution allowing two public defenders to represent the accused and the complainant in one and the same case.

PAO chief Persida Acosta advised all regional public attorneys to respect the High Court’s resolution that rejected PAO’s appeal to review and amend a conflict-of-interest provision of Section 22, Canon III of the newly approved Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability.

Acosta advised the public lawyers to reconcile the SC resolution with the provisions of Article 209 of the Revised Penal Code to avoid criminal responsibility and imprisonment considering that penal provision requires the consent also of the first client.

She urged the resident public attorneys to adopt precautionary measures in handling conflict-of-interest cases to “protect their life and limb as well as to avoid criminal and administrative liability.”

On Wednesday, the High Court turned down PAO’s request to remove the conflict-of-interest provision of CPRA.

“To turn away indigent litigants and bar them from availing of the services of all PAO lawyers nationwide due to alleged