MANILA, Philippines — For more than half a century, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) stood as an unshakable institution, bound faithfully to its mandate of extending free legal assistance, representation, and counsel to qualified indigent Filipinos, its chief, Persida Rueda-Acosta said on Friday.
Leading the entire PAO officials and personnel from its several offices nationwide in celebrating the agency’s 54th Founding Anniversary, Rueda-Acosta said: “Through every trial and triumph, the PAO has been a pillar of hope for the despairing, a voice for the voiceless, and a shield for the oppressed—a living guarantee that poverty shall never stand as a barrier to justice.”
Over the past 25 years since she assumed PAO’s top post after having been appointed by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the chief public attorney told The Manila Times that it has achieved “remarkable growth and a far-reaching expansion of its services especially to the millions of indigent and underprivileged Filipinos.”
Today, it reaches millions of Filipinos through 392 district and regional offices spread across the nation. In 2025 alone, PAO extended legal assistance to 16,426,655 clients—a powerful testament to its unwavering dedication to the Filipino people, the top PAO official said.
“As the PAO commemorates its 54th year of meaningful service, it offers its highest praise and heartfelt thanksgiving to the Almighty for His endless guidance and blessings throughout its journey,” she stressed.
Rueda-Acosta was joined by other key officials led by Deputy Chief Ana Lisa Soriano, PAO-National Capital Region director Revelyn Ramos-Dacpano, who also heads its Executive Support Staff; and Alma Latosa, Financial Planning and Management Service director, in conducting a medical mission exclusive for them at its central office.
During the event, Rueda-Acosta also gave away copies of her book “Law of Life’ to the members of the media.
PAO was established initially as the Citizen’s Legal Assistance Office (CLAO) on Oct. 23, 1972 through a presidential decree and an implementing order.
In July 25, 1987, CLAO was renamed PAO through an executive order while keeping the same mandate of providing free legal aid to indigent citizens.
In March 23, 2007 under the leadership of Rueda-Acosta, PAO was reorganized and strengthened as an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice with the enactment of Republic Act 9406 or the PAO Law).
