REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4152 - AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS ONE AND TWO OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED TWO THOUSAND
SEVEN HUNDRED FIVE, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE DUTIES
AND QUALIFICATIONS, AND FIXING THE NUMBER AND SALARIES, OF THE MEMBERS
OF LEGAL STAFF IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE"
Section 1. Section one of Republic Act Numbered Two thousand
seven hundred five, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Three thousand
five hundred ninety-four, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
"Section 1. In the performance of his duties as Attorney
General of the Philippines and as ex officio legal adviser of
government-owned and controlled corporations or enterprises, the
Secretary of Justice shall be assisted by a Legal Staff which shall
have one chief to be known as Chief Legal Counsel and two assistant
chiefs whose salaries shall be as hereinafter provided, four assistant
legal counsel each of whom shall receive an annual salary eight hundred
pesos less than that of the assistant chief legal counsel, and
twenty-six attorneys whose annual salaries shall be as follows:
"(a) Four senior special attorneys, each at six
hundred pesos less than that herein provided for assistant legal
counsel;
"(b) Four senior special attorneys, each at six
hundred pesos less than that provided in the next preceding paragraph;
"(c) Four special attorneys, each at six hundred
pesos less than that provided in the next preceding paragraph;
"(d) Four special attorneys, each at six hundred
pesos less than that provided in the next preceding paragraph;
"(e) Four special attorneys, each at six hundred
pesos less than that provided in the next preceding paragraph;
"(f) Two assistant special attorneys, each at one
thousand two hundred pesos less than that provided in the next
preceding paragraph;
"(g) Two assistant special attorneys, each at one
thousand two hundred pesos less than that provided in the next
preceding paragraph; and
"(h) Two assistant special attorneys, each at one
thousand two hundred pesos less than that provided in the next
preceding paragraph.
"The qualifications for appointment to the position of chief of the
legal staff and those of assistant chiefs, and their ranks and
respective salaries, shall be the same as those prescribed for the
first and next ranking assistant solicitors general. The qualifications
of assistant legal counsel, senior special attorneys and special
attorneys, and their ranks shall be the same as those prescribed for
solicitors in the Office of the Solicitor General.
"In the interest of greater efficiency in the discharge of the
functions of the office, the Attorney General's Legal Staff may, in the
discretion of the Department Head, be organized into four divisions
which shall function under the four assistant legal counsels who shall
be the chiefs of their respective divisions. The members of the Legal
Staff shall receive their salaries in accordance with the above revised
salary scale, any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding."
Sec. 2. Section two of republic Act Numbered Two
thousand seven hundred five is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 2. In addition to his regular duties, any
member of the Legal Staff, except those mentioned in paragraphs (f),
(g) and (h) of Section one, may, with the prior approval of the
Secretary of Justice, be called upon to perform the functions devolving
upon a solicitor whenever the Solicitor General shall so request, and
may also be designated by the Secretary of Justice as acting judge of
any city court in case of absence, sickness, or incapacity of the judge
thereof, or in case of any vacancy in the office of the city judge, but
he shall not receive any additional compensation during the time he is
acting as solicitor or city judge.
"It shall also be the duty of the Legal Staff, through one of its
divisions, to study all laws relating to trusts, monopolies and
combinations; to draft such legislation as may be necessary to up-date
or revise existing laws to enable the Government to deal more
effectively with monopolistic practices and all forms of trusts and
combination in restraint of trade or free competition and/or tending to
bring about non-competitive prices of articles of prime necessity; to
investigate all cases involving violations of such laws; and to
initiate and take such preventive or remedial measures, including
appropriate judicial proceedings, to prevent or restrain monopolization
and allied practices or activities of trusts, monopolies and
combinations. The attorneys assigned to this division shall act in
behalf of or represent, in accordance with law, the Attorney General in
all such proceedings and may, whenever necessary, take appropriate
punitive or coercive action against those responsible for such
forbidden acts or practices. And in the enforcement of the
aforementioned laws they shall have the same powers and authority
conferred by law upon prosecuting officer."
Sec. 3. Such sums as may be necessary to carry out
the provisions of this Act are hereby authorized to be appropriated.
Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
Approved: June 20, 1964
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