Section 36Sec./Art. 36

The City Legal Officer. (a) The city legal officer must be a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the City of Imus, of good moral character and a member of the Philippine Bar. One must have practiced his profession for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the date of the appointment.

The term of the legal officer shall be coterminous with that of his appointing authority.

(b) The city legal officer shall receive such compensation, emoluments and allowances as may be determined by law.

(c) The city legal officer, the chief legal counsel of the City, shall take charge of the office of the city legal service, and shall:

(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sangguniang panlungsod and provide legal assistance and support to the city mayor in carrying out the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities;

(2) Develop plans and strategies and, upon approval thereof by the city mayor, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with the programs and projects related to legal services which the city mayor is empowered to implement and which the sangguniang panlungsod is empowered to provide;

(3) Represent the local government unit in all civil actions and special proceedings wherein the local government unit or any official thereof, in his official capacity, is a party: Provided, That, in actions of proceedings where a component city or municipality is a party adverse to the provincial government or to another component city, a special legal officer may be employed to represent the adverse party;

(4) When required by the city mayor or sanggunian, draft ordinances, contracts, bonds, leases and other instruments, involving any interest of the local government unit; and provide comments and recommendations on any instrument already drawn;

(5) Render his opinion in writing on any question of law when requested to do so by the city mayor or sanggunian;

(6) Investigate or cause to be investigated any Local official or employee for administrative neglect or misconduct in office, and recommend appropriate action to the city mayor or sanggunian;

(7) Investigate or cause to be investigated any person, firm or corporation holding any franchise or exercising any public privilege for failure to comply with any term or condition in the grant of such franchise or privilege, and recommending appropriate action to the city mayor or sanggunian;

(8) When directed by the city mayor or sanggunian, initiate and prosecute in the interest of the local government unit concerned any civil action on any bond, lease or other contract upon any breach or violation thereof;

(9) Review and submit recommendations on ordinances approved and executive orders issued by component units;

(10) Recommend measures to the sangguniang panlungsod and advise the city mayor on all matters related to upholding the rule of law;

(11) Be in the frontline of protecting human rights and prosecuting any violation thereof, particularly those which occur during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters or calamities; and

(12) Perform such other duties and functions and exercise such other powers as provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991, and those that are prescribed by law or ordinance.