Press Release
June 3, 2008

Lapid bill to provide free legal assistance for the poor

Sen. Lito Lapid authored together with Sen. Chiz Escudero a bill that would provide free legal assistance to poor people who cannot afford the services of defense lawyers -- for enactment by the Senate and House Representatives in Congress assembled.

When interviewed, the senator from Pampanga said this law is the culmination of his aspirations which came about when he was still a governor of that Central Luzon province.

Once, he said, he made a tour inspection of the jails and the experience of one detainee left an imprint in his mind. The man had been rotting in jail for five years at that time, for stoning a street light of an electric post.

The man had no money to pay for a lawyer. Although he had to be punished for his wrongdoing, the chastisement was obviously more than what he had deserved.

Thus, when Lapid became a senator of the land, the action hero-turned-politician silently worked his way and co-authored various bills intended to help the poor masses.

In a report prepared by the Committees on Justice and Human Rights and Ways and Means with Senators Lapid and Escudero as authors, a draft of an act that would provide free legal assistance and other purposes was discussed and it was agreed that this Act shall be known as the "Legal Assistance Act of 2008."

When this bill passes both Houses and becomes a law, it will be the culmination of Lapid's longtime dream for those who have less in life. It may still take some time, but the Pampanga senator's conviction is to translate it into a law, nonetheless.

This proposed measure is one of the many bills which have since been filed by Senator Lapid that will afford more assistance to the marginalized sector of the society.

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