40 IBP lawyers to offer free legal advice

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The IBP team in 2014 with Consul General Bernardita Catalla

THIRTY to 40 lawyers from the Philippines are set to conduct a free legal  consultation for Filipinos living and working in Hong Kong.

Vice Consul Fatima Guzman Quintin said the two-day “Idulog mo sa IBP 2” will be able to accommodate as many as 300 persons who want to ask questions and consult lawyers about legal matters on Nov. 14-15 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Conference Room of the Philippine Consulate General in Admiralty.

“Successful kasi ang IBP activity dito last year. Sabi nila madami palang may kailangan dito at noon may eight to 10 lawyers lang. Kinaya naman pero sabi nga nila na kailangan pala mas mahaba ang oras,” Guzman Quntin said.

Guzman Quntin said those who want to schedule their free legal consultation may call Ninni at 2823-8511 or Cholo at 2823- 8537 of the Civil Registry and Legal Section of the PCG.

The lawyers will also hold a legal forum on Nov. 15 at 4:30- 6 p.m. at the Public Area of the PCG..

In 2014, she said the lawyers were from Pampanga, but this year they are from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Central  Luzon chapter, including lawyers from Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, and Bulacan.

“Dahil nga ang demographics ng mga Pilipino dito sa Hong Kong ay madami sa kanila ay household service workers, hindi karamihan ay may capacity sila to pay for lawyers. So iyong legal advice lang ay ang laki na ng tulong sa kanila dito.

“Sabi ng mga lawyer last year na mas fulfilling pala sa Hong Kong na magbigay ng outreach, kasi siguro na-compare nila sa ibang countries [kung saan madami ding Pilipino]. Iyon lang steps para sa legal issues na binibigay nila, talagang nakakatulong na sa mga kababayan natin dito,” she added.

Last year, Filipinos who went to the consultation mostly asked about legal issues involving marriage, annulment, legal separation, child custody, and property, Guzman Quintin said.

The IBP is the “official organization of all Philippine lawyers whose names appear in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme Court.