Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14) — Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta on Friday apologized to the Supreme Court after justices denied her request to remove part of the updated Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) pertaining to conflict of interest concerning its lawyers.
“To our beloved justices of the Supreme Court, on behalf of the Public Attorney’s Office, and all public attorneys nationwide, I humbly and most respectfully apologize if you may have been hurt by the circumstances,” said Acosta.
“We beg for your understanding and indulgence. The arguments that we have stated were brought about by our passion to efficiently serve our clients and the poor and needy, which we have been inculcating in our lawyers’ practice,” she added.
She said PAO lawyers will abide by “Section 22 in relation to Sections 13 and 18, Canon III” of the CPRA—the provision she earlier wanted deleted.
The PAO, in an order issued Thursday, also directed all its lawyers to comply with the high court’s decision on the matter.
