Approach DOJ for legal assistance, public urged

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has urged the public not to hesitate in seeking legal assistance from the agency.

“The Department of Justice (DOJ) remains committed to bring the Department closer to the people, as it continues to provide legal assistance to the public through the DOJ Action Center (DOJAC),” Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said in a statement.

Balmes boasted that in 2017 alone, the DOJAC has served a total of 11,883 clients.

5,147 were walkin clients while 771 requests through phone-calls were entertained while 1,312 requests were referred to other offices and agencies for appropriate action.

In addition, 758 legal documents were prepared and responses were sent to 1,912 mails and 1,983 electronic mails.

Apart from this, the DOJAC also extended assistance to 956 senior citizens, 207 clients with gender-sensitivity issues and 66 persons with disabilities.

Balmes explained the DOJAC was created to extend various legal assistance to the people, especially those belonging to the marginalized sector, who send their requests or complaints personally or through phone-calls, letters or emails.

It was established on February 28, 1985 as the Public Assistance Center and was renamed the Public Assistance and Complaints Unit on May 3, 1989.

It became DOJAC pursuant to Department Order No. 204 issued on June, 22 1995.