Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Law
Sta. Mesa, Manila
Office of the Legal Aid

Report on the Legal Aid Clinic Conducted at Brgy. 428,

Zone 43, District IV, Sta. Mesa, Manila
February 27, 2016

A Project of the Legal Counseling Class 2nd Semester, SY 2015-2016

Ballos, Jacob
Bayod, Siegfried Jr.
Clemente, Lisa Marie J.
Garcia, Glen
Gadaza, Gerald
Lalo, Louise Lei
Ponce, Enrico
Portin, Felissa Marie
Parilla, May Ann
Rufa, Josephine Marie
Sarol, Jocelyn
Vanguardia, Angelo M.
Introduction

As part of the requirement for the subject Legal Counseling, the class for Legal
Counseling have set-up a Legal Aid Clinic in coordination of the Office of the Legal Aid of
Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Law to reach out to people in
barangay and to resolve their legal problems. The event was conducted at Brgy. 428,
Zone 43, District IV, Sta. Mesa Manila on February 27, 2016 (Saturday) from 8:00 A.M.
to 12:00 P.M.

Prior coordination with the Office of Legal Aid and the Polytechnic University of the
Philippines Administration was obtained in order to process the necessary documents and
papers necessary for the conduct of the Legal Aid Clinic. Prior coordination with the
barangay, specifically with the Barangay Captain Tedulo G. Isla, was obtained in order to
disseminate information about the Legal Aid to be conducted. A copy of the program is
produced as Annex “A”

Program

Time Activity/Activities
06:00 – 06-30 Call time
07:30 – 08:00 Registration
08:00 – 08:30 Opening Prayer by Ms. May Ann Parilla

Opening Remarks by Brgy. Captain Tedulo G. Isla

Introduction to Guest Lawyers by Mr. Jacob Ballos

Introduction of the Speakers for the Seminar by Mr. Jacob

Ballos
08:30 – 08:50 Seminar on Barangay Conciliation by Atty, Kenneth
Sagauinit)
08:50 – 09:00 SHORT BREEAK
09:00 – 09:20 Seminar on Violence Against Women and Children by Atty.
Maria Cristina Gimenez
09:20 – 09:30 SHORT BREAK
09:30 – 11:00 Legal Aid Proper
11:00 – 11:30 Handing out of Tokens

Closing remarks by Atty. Maria Cristina Gimenez

Photo Session
11:30 – 12:00 Distribution of Food
Registration

The participants to the Legal Aid Clinic were required to fill out the registration
form where they provide their name, address, and contact information. Aside from filling
up the Registration Form, they were asked to fill out a Consultation Form.

The Consultation Form required the name of the respondent, the nature of the
case, the facts involved in the case and their issue and concern. This consultation
facilitates the conduct of the legal aid because it provides the lawyers an idea on what
matters they will discuss with the respondent. It also prevents any surprise on the part
of the lawyer on the questions or matters to be asked by the respondents. A sample of a
filled out Consultation Form is produced as Annex “B”.

Barangay Conciliation

Before the Legal Aid proper, there was a seminar conducted by Atty. Kenneth
Saguinit and Atty. Maria Cristina Gimenez on Barangay Conciliation and Violence against
Women and Children, respectively.

Not all legal problems should be filed in court. Through the passage of Republic
Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, the Lupon Chairman is
empowered to resolve legal matters in the barangay level. To inform the participants of
the scope of the Katarungang Pambarangay, Atty. Sagauinit gave a short seminar on the
same. Among the matters he discussed are the nature of Katarungang Pambarangay, its
objectives, its scope, the proceedings and the enforcement of settlement obtained
through barangay conciliation. In order for participants to better understand the
concepts, they were given flyers on the Katarungang Pambarangay. The flyers were
written in Filipino language for them to better understand the concepts. A sample of the
flyer given in the Legal Aid program is produced as Annex “C”

Violence Against Women and Children

After Atty. Sagauinit discussed Barangay Conciliation, Atty. Gimenez discussed on

Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) under R.A. 9262. The purpose of this
seminar is to inform the women respondents as to their rights and the rights of their
children in case they experience violence from their partners and the remedies under the
law that they may avail.

To better understand the VAWC, the participants were likewise given flyers. The
contents of the flyers discussed among others what VAWC is, the persons who may be
held liable under VAWC, and the remedies under R.A. 9262 like Barangay Protection Order
and Temporary Protection Order. A sample of the flyer is produced as Annex “D”
Legal Aid Proper

a. Profile of Lawyers

The lawyers who participated in the Legal Aid Clinic are the following:

Passed
Lawyer Hometown Education Occupation
the Bar
Eric C. Guiuan, 2007 BA Political Tumangan
Opriasa Eastern Science, Payumo Law
Samar NCBA Offies
LLB, PUP Part-time
Lecturer in
PLM

Maria Manila 1985 LLB, San Senior

Lourdes Beda Partner at
P. Padilla
Garcia Villanueva
Viernes
Abundo
Garcia Festin
and
Associates
Ronald Camarines 2010 Units Public Atty.
Crisanto Norte earned in II, PAO
P. Master of Morong Rizal
Mercado Laws, San
Sebastian-
Recoletos
LLB, PUP

Cherry Quezon 2014 LLB, PUP

Grace
Gamboa
-Castro
Jaime J. Mandaluyong 2015 LLB, PUP
Amor III

Joanna Cainta, Rizal 2012 LLB, PUP Attorney III.

Marie Magna POEA
Aboga- Cumlaude,
Liao BA History,
PUP

Kenneth Echague, 2009 LLB, San Running for

Sagauini Isabela Sebastian Councilor of
t Echague

Maria Manila 2012 Units Chief of

Cristina earned Office of
Gimenez Master or Legal Aid,
Laws, San PUP
Sebastian- Managing
Recoletos Partner at
LLB Mateo and
Gimenez
Law Office
 b. Conduct of Legal Aid

As mentioned earlier, the respondents were given Consultation Forms (Annex “A”)
in order to facilitate the lawyers who will be attending to them. This is also intended to
ensure that lawyers will be assigned to cases where they are expert or at least they have
sufficient knowledge.

From the Consultation Forms collected from the respondents, the following are
some of the problems submitted to the lawyers:

a. Titling of property and payment of tax

b. Sharing of inheritance
c. Sale of land and execution of deed of absolute sale
d. Cancellation of Certificate of Live Birth
e. Procedure of court hearing in criminal case
f. Support
g. Use of Surname
h. Marriage and Cohabitation
i. VAWC and Concubinage
j. Annulment of Marriage
k. Collection of sum of money
l. Settlement of Estate

c. Closing Program

After the Legal Aid proper, Atty. Gimenez gave her closing remarks and extended
her gratitude to the lawyers and the participants to the event. The lawyers were likewise
given Certificates of Appreciation to the lawyers who gave their time to the event. The
Class also prepared food for the lawyers and participants.

Recommendation

It is a lawyer’s duty as an officer of the court to assist in the administration of

justice. This duty is not confined in the four corners of the court but also extends to the
communities. Through the Legal Aid Clinic, lawyers were able to share their knowledge to
the public in order to inform them of what the law is and their rights that they may
enforce in case they are aggrieved. Although the Legal Aid Clinic conducted was very
limited in scope and time, it was effective way of disseminating information regarding the
law and its principles. It is thus recommended that in the next Legal Aid Clinic to enlarge
its scope (i.e. go to a larger barangay) and to extend the time (preferably whole day
rather than half day). This will allow the participants to fully exhaust their problems to
lawyers and for lawyers to provide a more detailed explanation on the matters presented
to them. This will also allow more participants to consult with lawyers regarding their
problems.