On Monday, January 27, the Senate approved on third reading Senate Bill No. 2814, or the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on National Defense and principal author of the measure, expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for supporting the bill, which aims to provide free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel facing legal challenges arising from the performance of their duties.
“As Vice Chair of the Committee on National Defense and principal author of the measure at hand, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the third reading passage of Senate Bill 2814 or the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act.”
Senator Go highlighted his longstanding support for military and uniformed personnel, dating back to his time before becoming a senator. He referenced the increase in salaries of uniformed personnel during the Duterte administration as an example of his commitment.
“Our military and uniformed personnel face countless risks in the line of duty, often in hostile and life-threatening environments,” Senator Go stated. “They perform their responsibilities with courage and commitment, safeguarding our sovereignty, upholding the rule of law, and providing assistance during times of calamity and crisis. However, there are instances when they encounter legal challenges arising from the faithful execution of their duties. In such cases, the government must ensure that they are not left to fend for themselves.”
The senator underscored that the bill reflects the government’s recognition of the unique challenges faced by military and uniformed personnel and its responsibility to safeguard their rights and welfare.
“Mr. President, ang panukalang batas na ito ay sumasalamin sa ating iisang layunin na tulungan ang ating mga kawani sa militar at uniformed personnel habang patuloy nilang ginagampanan ang kanilang tungkulin para sa sambayanang Pilipino. Isang patunay din ito na kinikilala ng gobyerno ang mga natatanging hamon na kanilang hinaharap at ang ating responsibilidad na tiyakin ang kanilang karapatan at kapakanan,” he emphasized.
Senator Go also extended his gratitude to Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who principally sponsored the measure, and to his fellow senators for supporting the bill.
“The passage of this measure is a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to the brave men and women who serve and protect our nation,” he added.
The SBN 2814 seeks to institutionalize a mechanism that provides free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel who face legal proceedings in connection with their official duties. The measure is seen as a vital step toward ensuring that the rights of those serving in the military and other uniformed services are upheld, even as they navigate the challenges and risks of their duties.
