The Public Attorney's Office needs 1,000 additional lawyers to help those who cannot avail of private legal services, PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said yesterday.

Acosta, who met with the members of the Lupon Tagapamayapa ( Pacification Committees) of the barangays in Bacolod City at the Government Center, said there are only 1,500 PAO lawyers for 2,600 courts nationwide.

The salaries of PAO lawyers have been increased and are now equivalent to the pay of government prosecutors, she said.

She is encouraging new lawyers, especially those who are inclined towards public service, to join the PAO in its campaign to give justice to the poor, she said.

Before, government lawyers could only handle criminal cases, but under the new PAO law, their mandate has been expanded to civil, administrative, quasi-judicial and labor cases to better serve the Filipinos, Acosta said.

There have been a lot of cases won by PAO lawyers, while there have also been instances where PAO clients were acquitted after the Supreme Court reversed the decisions of the lower courts, Acosta also said.

During the meeting with the Lupong Tagapamayapa yesterday, Acosta stressed the importance of mediation. She said there are a lot of people jailed because of simple offenses like grave threats and physical injuries, which can be easily resolved if mediated properly.

PAO records show that around 4,000 cases last year did not reach the courts because they were mediated through the help of PAO while at the prosecutor or barangay level.

Mediation is done to lessen the cases in court, however, PAO can only mediate in lesser offenses, but not heinous crimes, Acosta said.

She also said that the PAO hotline 029299436 and her cellphone number 09192625190 are always open to those who need free legal services.*APN

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