PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S 
OFFICE   

CITIZEN’S CHARTER  

 
 
 
 
PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE  

CITIZEN’S CHARTER  
 

MISSION  

The Public Attorney’s Office exists to provide the indigent litigants, the oppressed, marginalized and
underprivileged members of the society free access to courts, judicial and quasi-judicial agencies, by
rendering legal services, counseling and assistance in consonance with the Constitutional mandate that
“free access to courts shall not be denied to any person by reason of poverty” in order to ensure the rule of
law, truth and social justice as components of the country’s sustainable development.

VISION  

A government agency that is God-centered and dynamic bureaucracy that is responsive to the ever-growing
legal needs of the indigents and oppressed led by highly competent, world- class, development-oriented,
honest, dedicated and nationalistic leaders and lawyers.

 
 In support of its Mission and Vision, the PAO adheres to the following objectives and thrust:  

• To provide the indigent clients with free legal services;  

• To fulfill the constitutional guarantee of free access to courts, due process and equal protection of the law
and the  
rights of person under investigation for an alleged commission of an offense.  
 
  
 
  I. FRONTLINE SERVICES:  
a. REGULAR JUDICIAL AND QUASI‐JUDICIAL   
1. Preparation Of Affidavits/ Representation Of Indigent Accused During Preliminary Investigation And Trial  
2. Representation Of Indigent Complainant/Petitioner In Ordinary Civil Actions, Special Proceedings And Special Civil Actions  
3. Representation Of Indigent Defendant/Respondent In Ordinary Civil Actions, Special Proceedings And Special Civil Actions  
4. Representation Of Indigent Employee-Complainant In Labor Cases  
5. Representation Of Indigent Persons On Administrative And Other Quasi‐Judicial Cases  
6. Mediation/Conciliation Services  
 
  
b. NON JUDICIAL SERVICES  
Instant Services 
1. Preparation of affidavits, administration of oath and documentation  
2. Legal Counseling  
 
Legal Outreach Activities  
3. Assistance to persons undergoing police interrogation or persons under detention and inquest proceedings  
4. Jail Visitations  
5. Barangay outreach programs  
 
 c. SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE  
1. Regular Services Monday to Friday  
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. without noon break  
2. Emergency Services (inquest activities) On call anytime of the day  
3. Legal Advice (phone inquiry) On call anytime of the day 

A. REGULAR JUDICIAL & QUASI-JUDICIAL SERVICES

SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE

Monday to Friday  
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. without NOON BREAK  
 
WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE
1. Only INDIGENT CLIENT unless the Client is subject to existing PAO MOAs and pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 3 of RA 9406
and 2016 Revised Operations Manual.  
 
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
1.  Latest Income Tax Return or Payslip, or other proofs of net income; or, 
Certificate of lndigency from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, City Social Welfare and Development Office, or  
the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant; or, 
     Certificate of lndigency from the Punong Barangay/Barangay Chairman having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant. 
 
2. Any Valid Identification Card  
 
DURATION
As necessary  
 
  
 

HOW TO AVAIL OF THE REGULAR SERVICES OF PAO:  

STEP Applicant/Client   Service Provided Time Person-in- Fees Forms  
Frame Charge
1.   Register with the Public Assistance Desk The public assistance desk officer     Free of charge  
officer about the nature of the requested legal shall evaluate the request and refer 5 mins   Public   under R.A. No.
assistance   the client to the officer of the day for Assistance   9406  
initial interview   Desk Officer  

2.   Fill up the client’s profile/interview sheet and The officer of the day        
narrate concern to the Handling Public shall interview  the  client  and  advice      Free of charge  
Attorney   him/her of the legal remedy for his/her  As Officer of the under R.A. No. Client’s
query. The public attorney shall require  necessary Day   9406   profile/Interview
the client to submit evidence in support  sheet  
of  his/her  case.  The  public  attorney 
shall  also  require  the  client  to  submit 
proof of indigency  

3.   Client shall submit pertinent documents and The assigned public        

proof of indigency to the Handling Public   attorney shall thoroughly evaluate the      Free of charge Certificate of
Attorney for evaluation   merits of the case and advice the client    Handling under R.A. No. indigency  
of  the  appropriate  legal  action.  If  the  As Public   9406  
client  is  is  disqualified,  the  assigned  necessary Attorney  
Public  Attorney  shall  prepare  the 
denial/disqualification form  
4.   Client shall approach the Public Assistance The clerk in charge        
Desk officer to record his case and execute shall assign  the  control  number  if  the      Free of charge Affidavit of
the affidavit of indigency   case  and  require  the  client  to  sign  the  As Clerk in under R.A. No. indigency  
affidavit of indigency   necessary Charge   9406  

5.   Client shall return to the Handling Public The handling public        

Attorney for further interview, evaluation of the attorney shall assist  in  preparing  the      Free of charge
case, updates and submission of   necessary  pleadings  /set  the  case  for  As Handling under R.A. No.
additional documents, if necessary   hearing.  The  handling  public  attorney  necessary Public   9406  
shall  inform  the  client  of  the  schedule  Attorney  
of  hearing  and  require  the  client  to 
appear  in  court  in  all  the  scheduled 
hearings  

B. NON-JUDICIAL SERVICES

1. PREPARATION OF AFFIDAVITS, ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS AND DOCUMENTATION  

SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE

Monday to Friday  
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. without NOON BREAK  
 
WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE
Not subject to Indigent Test (Indigent clients may not be required to submit proofs of indigency) but care should be taken that
affluent persons do not avail of PAO services.  
 
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
Any Valid Identification Card  
 
DURATION
30 Minutes**  
  
HOW TO AVAIL OF THE SERVICE:  
STEP   APPLICANT/CLIENT SERVICE PROVIDER   TIME PERSON ON FEES FORM  
FRAME** CHARGE
1  Register with the public assistance desk in Public assistance desk in charge will   Public Free of NONE  
charge and inform the desk officer about the determine the qualification of the client and if 5 Assistance   charge  
legal document needed.   qualified, assist in the execution of the minutes   Desk Officer   under
document.   R.A.  
No. 9406  
2  Fill up the form and thereafter submit it back to Verify the contents of the legal documents   Public    
the public assistance desk in charge.   together with the client’s residence   5 Attorney/Officer
Certificate or any valid I.D.   minutes   -of-the-Day  
3  Wait at the designated waiting area until your Turn over the legal document to the public   Public    
name is called by the Public Assistance Desk in attorney/officer-of-the-day for the 10 Attorney/Officer
charge/   administration of oath.   minutes   -of-the-Day  

4    Release the requested document to the 3 Clerk in charge    

client.   minutes  
 
END OF TRANSACTION
 
** Approximately  

2. LEGAL COUNSELLING  
 
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE
Monday to Friday  
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. without NOON BREAK (except phone inquiry – any time) 
  
WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE
Not subject to Indigent Test (Indigent clients may not be required to submit proofs of indigency) but care should be taken that
affluent persons do not avail of PAO services.  
 
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS  
      Any Valid Identification Card  
 
DURATION
30 Minutes**

HOW TO AVAIL OF THE SERVICE:  

STEP APPLICANT/CLIENT   SERVICE PROVIDER TIME PERSON FEES FORM  
FRAME** ON
CHARGE
1  Register with the public assistance desk in Public assistance desk in charge shall   Public Free of NONE  
charge and get a route slip.   initially interview the client, determine the 5 minutes   Assistance   charge  
problem and provide the route slip.   Desk in Charge under
R.A.  
No. 9406
2  Fill up the form and thereafter submit it back Verify the contents of the route slip and   Public    
to the public assistance desk in charge.   turn-over the route slip to the Public 5 minutes   Assistance  
Attorney-officer of the day for signature.   Desk in Charge
3  Wait at the designated waiting area until Call the name of the client on a first   Public    
your name is called by the Public Assistance come, first served basis and refer the 5 minutes   Assistance  
Desk in charge/   same to the public attorney/officer-of-the- Desk in Charge
day for the legal advice/counseling.  
4  When the client’s name is called, approach The public attorney/officer-of-the-day will   Public Attorney    
the table of the Public Attorney-officer of the give legal advice/opinion to the client   immediately Officer of the
day for legal advice/counseling   day  

END OF TRANSACTION
 
 
3. LEGAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES (LIMITED AND PROVISIONAL)  

a. ASSISTANCE OF SUSPECT/RESPONDENT UNDER CUSTODIAL INTERROGATION AND INQUEST INVESTIGATION  

SCHEDULE OF AVAILABILITY OF SERVICE

Monday to Sunday  
ANYTIME OF THE DAY AND NIGHT  

WHO MAY AVAIL OF THE SERVICE

Persons arrested, detained, under custodial investigation or inquest proceedings who cannot secure their own counsel pursuant to
2016 PAO Operations Manual.  
 
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
1. Copy of Waiver and Request for Preliminary Investigation and Waiver of Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code  
2. Police investigation report/case report  
3. Sworn Statement/Affidavits Of Witnesses  
4. Other Documentary Evidence For The Prosecution  
5. Such other documents as maybe required by the handling lawyer  
 
DURATION
1 hour and 15 minutes**  
 
 
 
 
 HOW TO AVAIL OF THE SERVICE:  
STEP   APPLICANT/CLIENT SERVICE PROVIDER TIME PERSON ON FEES   FORM  
FRAME  CHARGE  
**
1  Any person who is arrested without a warrant for The duty of the inquest public attorney shall        
a crime or any member of his family may request immediately assist the suspect/respondent or 2 Duty      
for assistance of a Public Attorney from the person arrested without a warrant and is subject of minutes Inquest   None   None  
nearest PAO district office during custodial custodial interrogation and inquest investigation.   Public  
investigation or inquest proceedings.   Attorney
2  During interview, inform the Inquest Public The duty of the inquest public attorney shall confer        
Attorney of the Circumstances of his arrest and with the client privately and inform his/her rights 2-3 Duty   None   None  
detention.   under the law in a language or dialect known to minutes Inquest  
him/her.   Public  
Attorney
3    Based from the facts narrated by the suspect and        
on the documents prepared by the police, the 2 Duty   None   None  
inquest Public Attorney shall determine the legality minutes Inquest  
of the arrest or detention of the suspect.   Public  
Attorney
4  Inform the assisting Public Attorney whether If the arrest detention is illegal, the inquest public        
he/she wishes to execute a waiver under Article attorney shall demand for the release of the 3 Duty      
125 of the Revised Penal Code, after being suspect/respondent from the custody of the police. minutes Inquest   None   None  
informed of his/her rights, the remedies available If the arrest detention is legal, the inquest public Public  
and the consequences thereof.   attorney shall explain to the suspect/respondent Attorney  
whether he/she wishes to request a preliminary
investigation and execute a waiver of Article 125 of
the revised penal code and explain to him/her the
nature and consequences of the waiver if he/she
signed the same.  
 
5  Sign the waiver only after being fully informed of After the execution of the waiver of Article 125 of        
  the consequences thereof and is should be the RPC, the inquest public attorney shall make the 3 Duty      
  voluntary.   available schedule in the preparation of the counter minutes Inquest      
  affidavit and that of his/her witnesses, if there is Public None   None  
any.
 Attorney

6  Appear before the assisting Public Attorney for Assist in the preparation of the counter affidavit of        
the preparation and execution of his the person undergoing inquest proceeding and that
counteraffidavit and those of his witnesses.   of his/her witnesses if any, and submit the same
with the Prosecution Office.  
 
END OF TRANSACTION  

 
 
 
 
 
________________________________  

** Approximately  
 FEEDBACK
FORM (Pananaw
o Puna)  
 
 
Please let us know how we have served you. You may use this form for compliments, complaints or suggestions. Simply check the corresponding box.  
Ipaalam po ninyo sa amin kung paano naming kayo napaglingkuran. Maaring gamitin ito para sa papuri, reklamo, o mungkahi. Mangyaring I-tsek lamang ang
kahong naayon.  
 

COMPLIMENT  COMPLAINT     SUGGESTION 

   ( Papuri) (Reklamo)     (Mungkahi)
   

Person(s)/Unit/Office Concerned or Involved:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ (Mga) tao/pangkat/tanggapan na
may kinalaman sa ( ) papuri ( ) reklamo ( ) mungkahi  
 
Facts or Details surrounding the Incident: (Please use additional sheet/s if necessary)  
(Kaganapan o detalye na bumabalot sa pangyayari) (Mangyaring gumamit ng karagdagang papel king kinakailangan)  
 

Recommendation(s)/ Suggestion(s)/Desired Action from our Office (Please use additional sheet/s if necessary)  
(Rekomendasyon/Mungkahi/Nais na aksyon mula sa aming tanggapan) (Mangyaring gumamit ng karagdagang papel king kinakailangan)  
 
 

 
Name (OPTIONAL):_______________________________________________________ Office.Agency:_____________________________________________________  
(Pangalan) (Tanggapan/Ahensiya)  
 
Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________  
(Tirahan)  
 
Contact No(s) (if any): ____________________________________________________ E-mail Address (if any): _____________________________________________  
(Telepono)  
 
Signature (Lagda):_______________________________________________________ Date (Petsa): _____________________________________________________)