By JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
Correspondent
DOZENS of villagers availed of free legal services given by law students and faculty of Xavier University in Barangay Poblacion, Opol town in Misamis Oriental, Sunday.
Some 60 graduating law students and five lawyers from the Jesuit institution spent a few hours at the gymnasium of Opol Community College to give advice and other forms of legal assistance, said Danilo Daroy Jr., the chairman of Poblacion and, incidentally, a third year Xavier law student.
The project, called “Hatod Balaod 2020,” was aimed at catering to the legal needs of the Opol residents, especially the needy and less fortunate.
Many of the villagers had land ownership rights concerns, had problems with the processing of birth certificates, and were in need of notarial services.
Aside from the benefit it gave to those who can barely afford to consult or employ the services of an attorney, the activity also proved to be helpful for law students especially those who have undergone the legal counseling subject.
“This is a part of the curriculum, and as required by the Supreme Court, law students must render free legal clinic or legal counseling. This is also their first-hand experience on what a lawyer does,” Daroy said.
Charis Yongzon, 44, a resident of Barangay Bonbon, Opol, said “Hatod Balaod” was helpful in that she and her family have been planning on having their individual titles of the land they inherited be processed.
Yongzon said she came to the free legal clinic to accompany her son with his concern on his daughter’s birth certificate, but realized that she too needed the legal help.
“I was glad I came here. I did not have to spend money to go to a lawyer for the legal advice,” she said.
Yongzon said she was told to go to concerned government agencies and to bring with her the necessary documents such as the land title.
Opol Mayor Maximino Seno said the conduct of the “Hatod Balaod” was a big help for the people of the town.
“It’s all pro bono. They don’t have to pay, especially in the notarial services, considering that you have to spend when you go to a lawyer,” Seno said.
With the success of “Hatod Balaod,” Daroy said, they are planning on partnering with Xavier Ateneo’s School of Medicine to hold free legal cum medical clinic sometime in the future to give more services to the needy.
