The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), an attached agency of the Department of Justice, traces its origin to the Agricultural Tenancy Commission, later renamed Tenancy Mediation Commission (TMC), that was created by Republic Act No. 1119 on August 30, 1954. The TMC was established to provide legal assistance to agricultural tenants. In 1963, Republic Act No. 3844, the Agricultural Land Reform Code, reconstituted and renamed the TMC to Office of the Agrarian Counsel (OTAC).

From providing assistance exclusively to agricultural tenants, Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1, issued on September 24, 1972, or the Integrated Reorganization Plan, made possible the shift from strictly agrarian concerns to legal aid with the creation of the Citizen’s Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) to represent, free of charge, indigent persons in legal cases. Letter of Implementation No. 4, issued a month after implemented the provisions of PD 1 on the creation of CLAO, expanding its functions to include civil, administrative, criminal, and labor cases as well.

After the political transition in 1986, Executive Order No. 292, issued on July 25, 1987, or the Administrative Code of 1987, renamed CLAO to Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and placed it as an attached agency of the Department of Justice. Republic Act No. 9406, signed into law in 2007, reorganized and strengthened the PAO and amended pertinent provisions of Executive Order No. 292, the Administrative Code of 1987. The Act secured the expansion of the budget and the breadth of the PAO, key changes that assisted the agency in pursuing its mandate to provide free legal representation, assistance, and counselling to indigent persons in all criminal, civil, labor, administrative, and other quasi-judicial cases in the interest of justice.

The Public Attorney’s Office continues to deliver the much-needed legal assistance to many indigent Filipinos. With a heightened awareness on the assistance that PAO provides and the continuous development of the professional complement of public attorneys, the public, especially those who can ill afford legal assistance, can rest assured that their rights are well protected and secured.

The Public Attorney’s Office will end today its five-day 3rd Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Accredited (MCLE) National Convention at the historic landmark Manila Hotel. Since last Tuesday, the PAO has been holding forums on various issues, with keynote and inspirational speakers. Award rites will conclude the convention.

We congratulate the Public Attorney’s Office led by Chief Public Attorney Persida Rueda Acosta, its Officers and Members on the occasion of their Annual Convention and wish them success in all their endeavors.