I was just talking to my friend from San Beda Law about the problem of this movement to finance or get top caliber lawyers to handle our cases. Then he made mention about this LAPID LAW of 2010. Say what?!?! A law authored by Senator Lito Lapid? Lo and behold the answer to our dilemma. FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2010 or RA 9999.
As posted in Senator Lito Lapid's campaign facebook account, here are the law's salient features;
• Sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito, mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga mahihirap na makuha ang serbisyo ng mga de-kalibre at sikat na abogado ng walang bayad. (This measure will allow indigent litigants to acquire the services of renowned lawyers and law firms for free.)
• Kapalit ng serbisyo ng mga abogado o ng law firm, bibigyan sila ng insentibo sa pamamagitan ng bawas sa babayarang buwis sa halagang katumbas ng serbisyong kanilang ibinigay. (In exchange for the services rendered by the lawyer or the law firm, they will be given tax incentives equivalent to the cost of the services rendered to the indigent litigant.)
• Tutulungan ng batas na ito na mabawasan ang bigat at dami ng mga kasong hinahawakan ng Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) na karamihan ay mga kaso ng mga taong walang pambayad sa abogado. Sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito, maaaring ipadala ng PAO ang mga taong ito sa mga abogado o law firm upang mabigayn ng karampatang tulong legal. (This measure will help relieve the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) of its numerous case load involving indigent litigants who shall be referred to lawyers or law firms in the private practice.)
• Kayang hikayatin ng batas na ito ang mga sikat na abogado at de-kalibreng law firm na makiisa sa pamahalaan sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong legal sa mga taong walang pambayad sa abogado dahil anumang serbisyong ibibigay nila ay may katapat na bawas sa buwis na kanilang dapat bayaran. (This measure should entice renowned and distinguished firms and lawyers in the practice as their services shall still be compensated commensurately through the tax incentives.)
• Kapalit ng serbisyo ng mga abogado o ng law firm, bibigyan sila ng insentibo sa pamamagitan ng bawas sa babayarang buwis sa halagang katumbas ng serbisyong kanilang ibinigay. (In exchange for the services rendered by the lawyer or the law firm, they will be given tax incentives equivalent to the cost of the services rendered to the indigent litigant.)
• Tutulungan ng batas na ito na mabawasan ang bigat at dami ng mga kasong hinahawakan ng Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) na karamihan ay mga kaso ng mga taong walang pambayad sa abogado. Sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito, maaaring ipadala ng PAO ang mga taong ito sa mga abogado o law firm upang mabigayn ng karampatang tulong legal. (This measure will help relieve the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) of its numerous case load involving indigent litigants who shall be referred to lawyers or law firms in the private practice.)
• Kayang hikayatin ng batas na ito ang mga sikat na abogado at de-kalibreng law firm na makiisa sa pamahalaan sa pagbibigay ng serbisyong legal sa mga taong walang pambayad sa abogado dahil anumang serbisyong ibibigay nila ay may katapat na bawas sa buwis na kanilang dapat bayaran. (This measure should entice renowned and distinguished firms and lawyers in the practice as their services shall still be compensated commensurately through the tax incentives.)
As of this posting, I haven't had the chance to try this out yet or inquire as to how one can avail of this. I'll update as soon as I know.
Thank you Senator Lito Lapid. I may not your fan, but for this reason alone, I will be voting for you. You might be a member of the Senate's 'silent' minority, but as long as you author laws like this, I'm sure you will be one of the greatest senators this country.
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