Persida Acosta

Persida V. Rueda-Acosta (born August 19, 1961) is a Filipina lawyer who currently serves as the chief of the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) since 2001.

Early career
Acosta was a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law as well as the University of the East, San Sebastian College, New Era University, and Bulacan State University.

Public Attorney's Office (2001-present)


On February 23, 2001, then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Acosta to head the Public Attorney's Office. Since then, she served under the Aquino and Duterte administrations.

Controversies
In 2023, the Supreme Court issued a show cause order against Acosta after she criticized the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA). After Acosta apologized, she issued an order for public attorney lawyers to follow the Supreme Court's new code of conduct. The Supreme Court in an En banc judgment promulgated on February 28, 2024 fined Rueda-Acosta PHP 30,000 for indirect contempt of court and PHP 150,000 for grossly undignified conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. PAO forensics expert Erwin Erfe was also fined PHP 10,000 for similar statements.