Lawyers give free legal services to ARMM residents

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Thirty volunteer lawyers will conduct free legal services from November 11 to 13 for residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as one of the highlights of the commemoration this month of the ARMM’s 25th founding anniversary.

Laisa Alamia, regional executive secretary, said the ARMM’s 25th anniversary this month could be the region’s last.

There is now a bill in Congress, the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, seeking the replacement of ARMM with a more politically empowered Bangsamoro government based on the March 27, 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB is the final peace compact between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Alamia, a practicing human rights lawyer, said the three-day “legal clinic” at the ARMM compound in Cotabato City is in line with the regional government’s continuing delivery of services for poor and needy sectors.

Alamia said the ARMM’s chief executive, Gov. Mujiv Hataman, will extensively support the conduct of the activity, which is open to the region’s Muslim, Christian, and lumad communities.

“Residents of towns and provinces outside of ARMM can also come if they wish to avail of these free legal services,” Alamia said.

The 30 volunteer lawyers to participate in the event, under the supervision of the region’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG),  will provide legal counseling and guidance actions and facilitate preparation of affidavits and special powers of attorney to prospective clients.

“We shall also give free legal assistance to women with legal problems, and those confronted with women-related issues,” Alamia said.

Lawyer Cheryl Limbing, a senior staffer of OAG-ARMM, said the lawyers that volunteered to help push the activity forward are employees of different government agencies and practitioners from private law offices.  

“Shariah counselors will also join us this time. There were queries on Shariah law during similar activities in previous years,” Limbing said.

The ARMM’s legal clinics in past years were assisted by the local chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the Public Attorney’s Office, and the College of Law of the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, and lawyers who belong to the Rotary Club.