COA clarifies: IBP can seek LGUs’ help in legal aid programs

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) chapters can now seek assistance from local government units (LGUs) for their free legal aid programs to the poor, assured IBP President Burt Estrada.

Estrada made this assurance after the Commission on Audit (COA) sent a reply-letter dated July 28 to the IBP that explained that such agreements for assistance between the chapters and LGUs is not covered by COA Circular No. 98-002 that prohibits LGUs to hire private lawyers who will handle the cases of LGUs.

“With the foregoing clarification from the COA, LGUs can now formally engage the IBP Chapters through a Memorandum of Agreement and provide support, financially or otherwise, to the legal aid program of the Chapter,” he said.

“This will surely expand the capacity of the IBP Chapter to provide free legal aid to the poor and/or indigent constituents of the municipality, city or province,” he added.

In the COA’s letter, Estrada cited that the COA explained that agreements that provides LGU assistance to IBP chapters is “not covered by the prohibition under COA Circular No. 98-002.”

“It clarified that the said circular refers to the employment of private lawyers to handle legal cases involving LGUs,” he said.

“This is not the case as regards the agreement between the LGU and IBP Chapter where the former would engage the latter to provide legal service to indigent and poor constituents of the LGU,” he added.

Estrada said the COA only advised that the draft agreements” clearly specify the respective roles and responsibilities of the IBP Chapters and LGUs, including the type and purpose of the assistance.”

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)