Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act
Section 3. Legal Assistance Fund. The Legal Assistance Fund created under the Act shall be used exclusively to provide legal services for Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos in distress in accordance with approved guidelines, criteria and procedures of the DFA.
It shall be used inter alia for the following specific purposes:
(a) In the absence of a counsel de oficio or court-appointed lawyer, payment of attorney's fees to foreign lawyers for their services in representing migrant workers facing criminal and labor cases abroad, or in filing cases against erring or abusive employers abroad, provided, that no amount shall be disbursed for the appeal of cases except when the penalty meted is life imprisonment or death or under meritorious circumstances as determined by the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs;
(b) Bail bonds to secure the temporary release of workers under detention upon the recommendation of the lawyer and the foreign service post concerned; and
(c) Court fees, charges and other reasonable litigation expenses when so recommended by their lawyers.