The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) was able to secure the acquittal of 26,393 indigent clients in various courts in 2022.
PAO chief Persida Acosta credited the high rate of acquittal to the “dedication of the hardworking men and women of the PAO.”
She said the agency rendered services to 11,729,353 poor clients and handled 850,753 cases in 2022.
PAO released from detention of 87,577 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
“With the vigilance of our public attorneys, the PAO was able to secure the release of 87,577 PDLs for the whole year 2022,” she said, citing the agency’s 2022 accomplishment report.
The legal bases for the PDLs’ release included recognizance after service of minimum sentence, imprisonment equal to maximum imposable penalty or complete service of sentence, allowance and posting of bail/reduced bail, plea bargaining, grant of demurrer, dismissal with prejudice, and grant of probation.
Acosta said there was close coordination with the Board of Pardons and Parole that facilitated the inmates’ release.
She said PAO also assisted former rebels and former violent extremists who surrendered to authorities.
PAO has a total of 2,400 public attorneys who actively handle criminal, civil, labor, administrative, and other quasi-judicial cases before the courts and quasi-judicial bodies nationwide.