Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, vice chairperson of the Committee on National Defense and principal author of the measure providing free legal assistance to military and uniformed personnel facing legal challenges, expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for supporting Senate Bill 2814 approved on third and final reading Monday.

“As vice chair of the Committee on National Defense and principal author of the measure at hand, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the third reading passage of Senate Bill 2814 or the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act.”

Go highlighted his long-standing support for military and uniformed personnel, dating back to his time before becoming a senator. He referenced the increase in salaries of uniformed personnel during the Duterte administration as an example of his commitment.

“Our military and uniformed personnel face countless risks in the line of duty, often in hostile and life-threatening environments,” Senator Go stated. “They perform their responsibilities with courage and commitment, safeguarding our sovereignty, upholding the rule of law, and providing assistance during times of calamity and crisis. However, there are instances when they encounter legal challenges arising from the faithful execution of their duties. In such cases, the government must ensure that they are not left to fend for themselves.”

The senator underscored that the bill reflects the government’s recognition of the unique challenges faced by military and uniformed personnel and its responsibility to safeguard their rights and welfare.