Manila: Thousands of law students have been approached to assist lawyers who will act as counsels for teachers and poll watchdogs as they handle complaints in the run-up to the national elections later this week.
The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) aims to deploy an estimated 10,000 volunteers to assist teachers and members of poll watchdogs on election cases during the campaign process.
Lente is composed of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops‚ Conference of the Philippines, One Voice, Bishops‚ Businessmen's Conference, and various law schools that seek to guard the May 14 polls from being rigged.
Attorney Carlos Medina, One Voice's chief legal counsel said Lente would deploy a total of 3,200 lawyers and 6,400 law students and other volunteers to monitor campaigning.
Medina said Lente would stand up for teachers and members of poll watchdogs reporting malpractice during the counting of votes and help them file complaints against the offenders.
The lawyers' group earlier signed a pact with the Commission on Human Rights pledging to protect the results of the elections.
