September 27, 2018

SUBJECT: Narrative Report on the PARALEGAL TRAINING held last

July 17-20, 2018

This is in reference to the Paralegal Seminar/Training we attended at the Council for

Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV) Training Institute at Baguio Cityon July 17-20, 2018
which was conducted by the CRFV. The said seminar/training explained in non-awyer’s
language the workings of the law and the requirements that would make advocates against
graft and corruption effective and equipped to carry out their mandate with added
confidence, zeal and direction.

The course is directed to employees in different government sectors and agencies who
are non-lawyers in order to capacitate and enable them to understand legal processes in the
simplest presentation for effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws, rules and
regulations.

The training was attended by employees from various agencies such as the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Local
Government Units (LGUs) from various regions all over the Philippines.

On July 16, 2018, upon our arrival in Manila from Tacloban, we immediately
proceeded to Baguio City via Bus. Upon arrival, we checked-in and immediately proceeded to
the Training Institute and had ourselves registered for the said training.

On July 17, 2018, the CRFV hosted an orientation on their program and how it aims to
provide every concerned citizen who are exposed to the reality of corruption in the country
a tool and knowledge as to the workings of the Philippine Legal System. Networking was also
conducted wherein we were given the chance to meet with other representatives from
different agencies.

From July 18-20, 2018, the training focused on discussing the Philippine Legal System
and an introduction to Law. Group activities were conducted in order to further enhance the
concepts previously discussed. Afterwards, the concept of Paralegalism was introduced to the
participants wherein the use of law for protecting basic human rights was emphasized. An
introduction to Criminal Law was then taken up, and concepts of its characteristics, degrees
of execution, criminal liabilities were discussed with examples.

Concepts of Criminal Procedure were discussed one by one, from reporting the crime,
filing a criminal complaint, arrest, searches and seizure, bail, arraignment and plea,
mediation, judicial dispute resolution, pre-trial, trial, judgment and appeal. Rights of the
accused were also discussed, and that one of the things that paralegals must keep in mind is
that we should know the issue about the rights of the accused in a criminal case in order for
the accused to enjoy the state’s observance of the due process of law.
 Concepts of Civil Procedure were also taken up and how a paralegal must understand
the flow of the intricate rules and procedures in the filing of a civil case. Important points such
as causes of action, jurisdiction of different courts, venues of the action and filing of the
petition, summons, filing of the answer, pre-trial, default, trial, judgment and appeal was
thoroughly discussed. The concept of evidence and its importance was also pointed out.

Over the course of the training, the Katarungang Pambarangay Law was also
discussed. It was pointed out as vital, especially to the LGU representatives, as it provides a
venue for the settlement of disputes among the parties who reside in the same municipality
or city.

In addition, one of the basic skills of a paralegal was to learn about case analysis, since
not all disputes can be filed in court. This is vital as this is where a paralegal would know what
issues need to be raised, what evidence to be presented to the court and the arguments
needed to be researched. Further, legal interviewing was discussed since the paralegal is one
of the first persons that a survivor will get to talk to — even before a lawyer— and therefore
the information gathered would be deemed as the basis for the documents to be drawn up
and steps to be undertaken.

Finally, an activity was conducted wherein the different groups where asked to make
a case analysis while injecting the concept of affidavit making. A presentation was done by all
of the groups in front of all the attendees. During the course of the whole training, the
lecturers would now and then end each session with a question and answer session to which
queries were resolved and answered.

On July 20, 2018, once the training concluded, we immediately proceeded to check
out from our place of accommodation and traveled to Manila via Bus. Arrival at Manila was
at 11:30 in the evening.

Departure for Tacloban on July 21, 2018.

In sum, we learned that equipping ourselves with the proper knowledge and
information is paramount, to the end that we will be “PILI-PINOs”, chosen and refined,
with the goal of people empowering and helping people.

For your information.