President Marcos signs RA 12177 for free legal aid to MUPs

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12177, which provides free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel (MUPs).

The Police Regional Office-3 led by Brig. Gen. Jean S. Fajardo thanked the President for signing the law, emphasizing that it will protect lawmen facing cases in the performance of their duties.

RA 12177 mandates the government to cover legal fees and provide full legal services for uniformed personnel from various agencies who face civil, criminal, or administrative cases in the line of duty.

The law benefits members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Corrections, and the Hydrography branch of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil emphasized that this law is a moral commitment by the government to protect those who serve in uniform, providing them with full backing from the State.