A GROUP of lawyers has volunteered to give free legal assistance to the personnel of a unit under the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO).

The University of Cebu (UC)-Main Campus College of Criminal Justice Lawyers’ Group, represented by its dean, Dodelon Sabijon, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with CCPO-City Mobile Force Company (CMFC), represented by Chief Insp. Chuck Barandog.

The MOA signing happened at the UC-Main Campus in Cebu City last Thursday, Nov. 15. It will be in effect in the next three years, ending on June 30, 2021.

Barandog, the CMFC commander, said Sabijon initiated the MOA as the latter is a member of CMFC’s advisory council.

He said five members of the lawyers’ group will only defend CMFC personnel who will be facing criminal complaints in the prosecutor and court levels.

“This is a very rare opportunity from the sector of lawyers to voluntarily help us,” Barandog said in a phone interview. “They are convinced that the police and the community, including the lawyers, are partners in fighting criminality, solving crimes and prosecuting criminal offenders.”

The lawyers’ group stated that it is part of their outreach program to “help and assist law enforcement agencies” by giving them free consultation and legal representation.

“It is our belief that through our help, the way people will look at the police will change,” Sabijon said. KAL