Section 41Sec./Art. 41

City Legal Officer. (a) The City Legal Officer must be a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the City of Baliwag, of good moral character, a member of the Philippine Bar, and must have practiced the profession for at least five (5) years.

(b) The term of the City Legal Officer shall be coterminous with that of the appointing authority.

(c) The City Legal Officer shall receive such compensation, emoluments, and allowances as may be determined by law.

(d) The City Legal Officer, as 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 provisions 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 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 City in all civil actions and special proceedings wherein the LGU or any official thereof, in official capacity, is a party: Provided, That, in actions or proceedings where the City of Baliwag is a party adverse to the provincial government or to another component city or municipality, a special legal officer may be employed to represent the adverse party;

(4) When required by the City Mayor or Sangguniang Panlungsod, draft ordinances, contracts, bonds, leases, and other instruments involving any interest of the City and provide comments and recommendations on any instruments already drawn; A

(5) Render an opinion in writing on any question of law when requested to do so by the City Mayor or Sangguniang Panlungsod;

(6) Investigate or cause to be investigated any local official or employee for administrative neglect or misconduct in office and recommend the appropriate action to the City Mayor or Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the case may be;

(7) Investigate or cause to be investigated any person, firm or corporation holding any franchise of exercising any public privilege for failure to comply with any term or condition in the grant of such franchise or privilege, and recommend appropriate action to the City Mayor or Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the case may be;

(8) When directed by the City Mayor or Sangguniang Panlungsod, initiate and prosecute, in the interest of the City, any civil action on any bond, lease, or other contract for 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 violations 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 under the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended, and those that are prescribed by law or ordinance.