UP Visayas formed CLAG – the UPV Community Legal Assistance Group and it was launched March 24, 2021 in time for the 74th anniversary of the University of the Philippines presence in Iloilo.
Three ace lawyers, Atty. Jose Mari Tirol, Dean of the College of Law of the University of San Agustin, Prof. André Palacios of the UP College of Law, and Atty. Dennis Guevara, President of the UP alumni Association-Iloilo Chapter, attended the launching and offered their free services.
The legal assistance group composition will come from, among others, the UPV Alumni Association and other similar groups; the U.P. College of Law (including its Office of Legal Aid), the U.P. Law Center; and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
The UPV Community Legal Assistance Group (UPV-CLAG) will work on a voluntary basis in coordination with the University of the Philippines Visayas Legal Office.
The UPV formed CLAG to provide UPV constituents – faculty, student, and staff – with active legal support. It aims to do the following:
- First, to protect their constitutional and statutory rights (e.g., their freedom of speech or of expression, or their right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances) which may be threatened by “red-tagging” or other similar actions taken by government officers or private persons, and
- Second, to make available adequate legal relief in case such rights have been violated.
UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano, Atty. Nellie Regalado, UPV Legal Counsel, and the volunteer lawyers signed the initial proposal.
Vice-Chancellor Philip Ian Padilla, Vice-Chancellor Rhodelia Ibabao, and Prof. Julie Prescott, IPO Director, witnessed the signing.
*Photos and text is from UPV-IPO.