SA botong 248 laban sa tatlong tutol, inaprubahan ng Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang House Bill 6509 na magbibigay ng libreng legal assistance sa military and uniformed personnel (MUP) na makakasuhan dahil sa pagganap sa kanilang trabaho.

Bukod sa mga miyembro ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), kasama sa bibigyan ng libreng legal assistance ang mga tauhan ng Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, at Philippine National Police.

“It is the declared policy of the State to protect the dignity and rights of its citizens, including those responsible for upholding the Constitution, defending the sovereignty of the country and its territory against all enemies, enforcing the laws of the land, preventing crimes, and maintaining peace and order,” sabi sa HB 6509 o ang Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act.

Pinangunahan ni Speaker Martin G. Romualdez ang isang grupo ng mga kongresista bilang may akda ng panukala.

Kasama sa bibigyan ng libreng legal assistance ang mga nagretiro na sa serbisyo at nakasuhan dahil sa kanilang pagtupad sa kanilang tungkulin noong nasa gobyerno pa.

“The government lawyer so designated to provide legal assistance to an officer or uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, PCG, or PNP shall be entitled to payment of actual travel and other expenses, including Special Counsel Allowance, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations,” ayon pa sa panukala.