More than 3,800 people in Davao Region have received free legal assistance from the Department of Justice Action Center Region 11, or DOJAC-Davao, as the agency continues to provide legal support to indigent litigants, students and members of the public.
DOJAC-Davao regional head Atty. Edwin Dumalogdog said the center had assisted more than 3,800 clients as of September 2026. The services include free legal advice, document preparation, limited notarization and mediation.
The center operates at the Tolentino Building in Ecoland, Davao City. Its free notarization service is limited to self-serving documents, while its mediation service helps parties explore ways of resolving disputes without immediately going through lengthy court proceedings.
Dumalogdog clarified that DOJAC-Davao has a different role from the Public Attorney’s Office. While PAO provides in-court representation for qualified accused persons, DOJAC focuses on immediate legal guidance and refers clients to the appropriate government agencies when necessary.
Students make up a significant portion of the center’s clients, particularly those seeking notarization for academic and internship requirements. The center had assisted more than 2,500 clients by September 2025 and more than 4,000 throughout that year, according to DOJ officials.
The DOJ also reported that its Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program in Region 11 is currently protecting 53 active witnesses involved in serious criminal cases punishable by more than six years in prison, including murder and rape.
The number is slightly higher than the 51 witnesses enrolled during the same period in 2025. Depending on the number of ongoing court cases, the number of protected witnesses can reach about 70 during periods when demand for the program is higher.
Qualified witnesses may receive security protection, financial assistance, subsistence and dependent allowances, medical treatment, temporary secure housing and allowances related to court hearings. Protection generally continues while court proceedings are ongoing and security threats remain.
The DOJ also highlighted the Board of Claims under Republic Act 7309, which provides financial assistance to qualified victims of unjust imprisonment and certain violent crimes, including rape, torture, human trafficking and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
Under current guidelines, qualified victims may receive ₱10,000 in financial assistance. Regional Prosecutor Atty. Janet Grace B. Dalisay-Fabrero has called for amendments to raise the maximum compensation to ₱50,000. Applications must generally be filed by the victim or an immediate family member within six months from the commission of the crime.
The DOJ’s latest figures highlight the range of services available beyond courtroom litigation, from early legal consultations to witness protection and financial assistance for qualified victims.
As part of the DOJ’s 129th anniversary activities, the agency will also hold a free medical and legal clinic at the Hall of Justice in Ecoland on September 26, giving residents another opportunity to access government legal assistance.
