Public Attorney's Office (Philippines)

The Public Attorney's Office is the public defender for all courts in the Philippines. It also provides other legal services to the poor. According to its mission statement it exists to provide to the poor "free access to courts, judicial and quasi-judicial agencies, by rendering legal services, counselling and assistance".
It is an attached agency of the Department of Justice. It is led by chief public attorney Persida Acosta, who was appointed to the position on February 23, 2001, by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

History

PAO was previously known as the Citizen's Legal Assistance Office which was created as a body under the Department of Justice in 1972 under the Integrated Reorganization Plan. It is mandated to provide free legal assistance to indigent people.
In 2006, the CLAO was renamed as the Public Attorney's Office through Republic Act 9406. The renamed body retained its mandate.

PAO is headed by the chief public attorney, whose tenure is not defined by law.

Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Office	President	Ref.
	Reynold Fajardo	1975	1997	Citizens' Legal Assistance Office	Ferdinand Marcos
	Reynold Fajardo	1975	1997	Citizens' Legal Assistance Office	Corazon Aquino
	Reynold Fajardo	1975	1997	Citizens' Legal Assistance Office	Fidel V. Ramos
				Citizens' Legal Assistance Office	Fidel V. Ramos
				Citizens' Legal Assistance Office	Joseph Estrada
	Persida Acosta			Citizens' Legal Assistance Office	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
	Persida Acosta	February 23, 2001	incumbent	Public Attorney's Office	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
	Persida Acosta	February 23, 2001	incumbent	Public Attorney's Office	Benigno Aquino III
	Persida Acosta	February 23, 2001	incumbent	Public Attorney's Office	Rodrigo Duterte
	Persida Acosta	February 23, 2001	incumbent	Public Attorney's Office	Bongbong Marcos