Manila: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has welcomed the signing of Republic Act No. 12177 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which grants free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel (MUP). “With the enactment of this law, the DILG is confident that police, fire and jail personnel will be able to perform their duties with greater focus and confidence, free from the fear of harassment through baseless or unwarranted cases,” the DILG said in a statement over the weekend.

According to Philippines News Agency, RA 12177 mandates the government to shoulder legal fees and provide full legal services, including representation, consultation, and the preparation of necessary legal documents, to MUPs charged in the line of duty. The new law benefits uniformed personnel from the DILG’s attached agencies, namely the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, who are facing civil, criminal or administrative cases arising from the performance of their duties.

The law also covers personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Corrections, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority – Hydrography branch. The coverage extends to active, retired, or honorably separated members of the aforementioned government agencies.

“This law is not just a legal measure — it is a moral commitment of the government to protect those who protect the nation,” PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said in a separate statement thanking Marcos for signing the law. “[The law] sends a clear message that our public servants in uniform are not alone when doing their sworn duties. They now have the full backing of the State,” he added.