Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Atty. Persida Acosta demanded on Monday an apology from a senatorial candidate who accused PAO lawyers of being absent in their line of work.
She alluded to a certain "Mr. T," referring to broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, who said in a previous interview that he wants to establish his own legal assistance desk who would work for PAO lawyers, who he claimed were often absent in cases.
Acosta took offense to this accusation and said that even if they were sick, government lawyers are working to offer legal assistance to the public.
"'Yung mga lawyer namin buntis, yung mga lawyer namin diabetic, yung mga lawyer namin na nag-positive na sa COVID ay nagvi-virtual," she said.
(Our lawyers are pregnant, diabetic, and even if they are COVID-positive, they do virtually.)
"Nakahiga sa banig ng karamdaman nagvi-virtual. Napaka-unfair po na nilalahat mo," she added.
(They lie sick but they are still doing virtually. It is unfair that you generalize all of us.)
Acosta laid out figures from 2016 to 2021, where PAO assisted hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, except during 2020 and 2021 when it went below 100,000 as a pandemic broke out.
"Hindi po ito imbento," said Acosta. 'Yung sinabi niyo po, ano po basehan niyo?"
(This is not made up. On what you said, what is your basis?)
The PAO chief said that she wants an apology from the senatorial candidate, and urged him to avoid using the agency to further his political ambition.
"Mag-apologize ka. Hindi ka pa nauupong senador tinitira mo na kami," she said.
(You should apologize. You are not yet a senator but you’re already attacking us.)
"Wag na po nating gamitin ang PAO, Mr. T. Please spare PAO from politics," she added. "Kung gusto mo ako na lang tirahin mo. Ako na lang. Wag na 'yung mga tao ko."
(Do not use PAO, Mr. T. Please spare PAO from politics. If you want, you can attack me, but don’t attack my people.)
Tulfo, who places among the top preferred senatorial candidates for the 2022 elections, previously claimed that he has hundreds of volunteer lawyers who are willing to work for his legal assistance desk.
The broadcaster who rose to fame by hosting a public service show that attempts to resolve disputes on air, but some have criticized this for reportedly utilizing trial by publicity and not following due process.
