A Cebu lawyer accepted vegetables, crops, and a native chicken from three farmers after providing free legal assistance that helped them win a trespassing case involving the land they cultivated.
Atty. Juril Broka Patiño represented Mang Genaro Pepito, Mang Bernabe Pasay, and Michael Pepito after they faced a trespassing complaint over farmland they had been planting. The farmers were accused of trespassing and were detained for four days after they were mistaken as having planted on another person’s land.
Because of their financial situation, Patiño agreed to handle the case without charging legal fees. After the case was dismissed, the farmers gave the lawyer vegetables, harvested crops, and native chicken as a gesture of gratitude for his service.
Patiño accepted the farmers’ offerings, although he initially hesitated to take the chicken, saying he worried it might be a pet rather than something intended as payment. The gesture reflected the farmers’ appreciation for the legal support they received.
The Supreme Court‘s Rules on Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS), which took effect in 2025, require covered lawyers to provide at least 60 hours of free pro bono legal aid to qualified beneficiaries every 36 months. The services include court representation, legal counseling, document drafting, rights awareness training, and legal outreach programs aimed at expanding access to justice.
