Free legal services for ARMM residents

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – – Thirty volunteer lawyers will give free legal services from Nov. 11 to 13 for residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as part of the region’s 25th founding anniversary celebration.

Laisa Alamia, ARMM regional executive secretary, said the anniversary could be their last as a bill seeking to replace ARMM with the Bangsamoro government is pending in Congress.

Alamia said the three-day free legal services would be held at the ARMM compound in Cotabato City.

She said ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman promised to support the activity, which is open to the region’s Muslim and Christian communities as well as to indigenous tribes (lumad).

“People in areas outside of ARMM can also come if they wish to avail of these free legal services,” Alamia said.

The volunteer lawyers will provide legal counseling and guidance to interested individuals.

They will also facilitate preparation of affidavits and special powers of attorney for prospective clients.

Lawyer Cheryl Limbing of the Office of the Attorney General-ARMM said the volunteers are employees of different government agencies and 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.