MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has assisted 490 clients in the Ilocos Region with legal services from Jan. 1 to the present.
Legal Assistant to the DOJ Action Center in Ilocos Region Mercy De Jesus, in a phone interview on Tuesday, said the number is a mix of walk-in clients, those who called, contacted them through social media or e-mail, and those served in the Katarungan Caravan.
De Jesus said everyone is welcome to avail of the DOJ services for free except those already assisted by lawyers or who have legal counsel, those with a pending court case, and those who are not part of the case.
She said they have also been conducting information drives in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facilities for persons deprived of liberty and their families, such as in San Fernando City, La Union on Tuesday.
“We discussed the Victims Compensation Program, the Witness Protection Program, Pardon and Parole, and the services offered by the DOJ Action Center, and we also had a briefing about Human Trafficking,” she said.
She added that it is very important for them to have information, as most of them do not know that there are programs offered by the DOJ Action Center.
“They are not aware that there are free legal services that they can avail, not only for them, but also for their families and relatives,” she added. (PNA)
