PAO wants part in lawyers’ code changed to avoid conflict of interest

Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta, speaking in a budget hearing at the Senate in this file photo taken in 2019. (Senate photo)

MANILA, Philippines – Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is seeking either a revision or a deletion of a part in the contents of the new Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) for lawyers.

This is so that PAO can avoid a situation wherein its lawyers will supposedly represent the opposing sides of a case.

PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta is concerned this would result in conflict of interest among public defenders.

For this reason, she is seeking a dialogue with the justices of the Supreme Court.

Acosta wrote a letter to SC Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo for this purpose.

In particular, the issue is stated in Section 22 of the code.

“To appear in a case pending in another jurisdiction would compromise the cases in their assigned courts and other public services demanded by the district office,” Acosta explained.

CPRA replaces the 34-year-old Code of Professional Responsibility (CPR) that governed the conduct of lawyers in the country.

Acosta also cited a logistical problem arising from the provision.

She said PAO will have to assign a separate counsel who will have to come from another district.

She believes this situation will be difficult due to limited plantilla positions in her office.

RELATED STORIES:

Citing new lawyers’ code, PAO tells SC: We can’t play both sides

PAO seeks indefinite suspension of ‘conflict of interest’ provision in new lawyer’s code

APL