Professional Experience

• Free Legal Assistance Group

  2003–Present Chairperson

• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes

  2015–2021 Member, Panel of Arbitrators

• Presidential Adviser on Human Rights

  2017–2019 Integrated Bar of the Philippines

• De La Salle University College of Law

  2010–2019 Founding Dean

• Asian Development Bank Project on capacity development for members of the Constitutional Fiscal Autonomy Group (CFAG)

  2015 Fiscal Autonomy Expert

• Core Committee of the National Conference for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure, Chair of the Post-Trial Cluster Technical Working Group

  2013 Appointed by the Supreme Court as Member

• “The Model Pleadings of Jose W. Diokno (2020) and “Diokno on Trial: Techniques and Ideals of the Filipino Lawyer”

  2007 Publisher and Editor

• Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

  2001–2004 General Counsel

Significant Works/Projects

• Conducts legal mission missions, paralegal training, and free consutations for the urban poor, farmers, fisherfolk, and more

  1989–Present

• Free Legal Assistance Group

  2003–Present Chairperson

  Heads the Free Legal Assistance Group which provides free legal assistance to victims of human rights violations

• Trains lawyers for the Department of Justice, Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, COMELEC, Public Attorney’s Office

  Present

• Legal Helpdesk

  Present

  Helped 19,000 people through his his free Legal Helpdesk on Facebook through which he provides free legal asssitance

• Lawyer

  Cases won:

  • Case of the sunken MV Doña Pa
  • Freedom of speech [G.R. 212904] and implementation of the Renewable Energy Act [CA-G.R. SP No. 00034]
  • Landmark ruling of writ of amparo to protect two farmers that were taken, abused, and tortured [G.R. 180906]

• Law

  Strengthen the Barangay Justice System; give access to free legal services for Filipinos to have their legal inquiries addressed:

  • Ensure that the Pacification Committees (the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa) work efficiently and professionally
  • Establish a Training Center to train members of said committees to hone mediation, conciliation and arbitration skills, as well as record-keeping and administrative skills
  • Give committee members just compensation
  • Strengthen committees through attorneys that can supply them with legal acumen and guidance with legal issues like the Atty. Chel Diokno's Free Legal Helpdesk
  • Adequate support for the logistical and administrative needs of the committees

• COVID-19 Response

  • Making the Pandemic Management Law, reforming the healthcare system, and giving adequate benefits for healthcare frontliners

• Labor and Worker's Rights

  • Support for ordinary workers and MSMEs; ayuda distribution, unemployment insurance, business loans, and modernaization of agriculture and local industries
  • End ENDO

• Good Governance

  • Strenghten Anti-Corruption Laws to ensure that abusive and corrupt public officials and police are held accountable
  • Legislate the Freedom of Information Law so the people know where the nation's funds are going

• Public Welfare

  • Creating laws for adequate and decent housing for the poor

• Education

  • Improving public education, especially for public school teachers

• Human Rights

  • Legislate Anti-Discrimination Law for Filipinos to have equal access to education and work opportunities

• Transportation

  • Create an efficient and green public transportation; establish bike lanes, e-vehicles, and increased development of renewable energy sources

Agriculture

Infrastructure

Environment

Family and Women's Rights

Labor/Worker's Rights

Global Politics

Previous Administration

• Inquirer | Feb. 10, 2020

  DOJ dismisses sedition raps vs Robredo, 2019 opposition bets

  The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared Vice President Leni Robredo and members of the 2019 Senate opposition slate Otso Diretso of involvement in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.