The Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) is seeking more budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
PAO Chief Persida Rueda Acosta says, the number of drug-related cases being handled by her office has surged since the Duterte administration began its campaign against illegal drugs.
“Nagsumbong na kami kay Pangulong Duterte na hindi pa kami sinusuportahan ng DBM (we already complained to President Duterte about the DBM’s lack of support),” Acosta reports.
She notes, during the term of Former President Noynoy Aquino, PAO was attending to 82,000 drug-related cases.
But when Duterte launched the anti-narcotics war, PAO needed to handle about 221,000 new cases.
Acosta estimates, her office is currently handling a total of 303,000 drug-related cases.
PAO is tasked to represent indigent clients in court, even if the charges are against government interest, so long as the cases can be considered meritorious.