[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 67-2007, June 12, 2007 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 67-2007, June 12, 2007 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 67-2007, June 12, 2007 ]

TO: ALL CLERKS OF COURT/OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE OF THE FIRST AND SECOND LEVEL COURTS

SUBJECT:

EXEMPTION OF THE INDIGENT CLIENTS OF THE PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (PAO) FROM THE PAYMENT OF DOCKET AND OTHER FEES

Quoted hereunder for the information and guidance of all concerned are the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 9406 entitled "AN ACT REORGANIZING AND STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE (PAO), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 292, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 'ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987', AS AMENDED, GRANTING SPECIAL ALLOWANCE TO PAO OFFICIALS AND LAWYERS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE which took effect on April 15, 2007, to wit:

"SEC.2. Section 14 xxx is hereby further amended to follows:

" SEC. 14. Public Attorney's Office (PAO) . - xxx xxx xxx

"The PAO shall be the principal law office Government in extending free legal assistance to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, admin and other quasi-judicial cases." (Emphasis underlined)

xxx xxx xxx

SEC. 6. New section xxx

xxx xxx xxx

"SEC.16.D. Exemption from Fees and Costs of the Suit. - The clients of the PAO shall be exempt payment of docket and other fees incidental to instituting an action in court and of her quasi-judicial bodies, as an original proceeding or on appeal.

The costs of the suit, attorney's fees and contingent fees imposed upon the adversary of the PAO clients after a successful litigation shall be depsited in the National Treasury as trust fund and s disbursed for special allowances of authorized and lawyers of the PAO." (Emphasis underlined)'

However, the entitlement to the exemption from the p of docket and other fees shall be subject to the conditions prescribed under Section 19, Rule 141 of the Revised F Court .

Thus, the indigent client of PAO shall execute an stating (a) that his gross income and that of his immediate do not exceed an amount double the monthly minimum was employee; and (b) that the indigent client does not own property with a fair market value, as stated in the a current tax declaration, of more than three hundred th (P300,000.00) pesos.

The affidavit of the indigent client shall be supported by an affidavit of a disinterested person attesting to the truth of the former.

Strict compliance is hereby enjoined.

June __ 12 __, 2007. Untitled Document

CHRISTOPHER O. LOCK

Court Administrator