DRAFTING TRAINEES INTO SELECTIVE MILITARY SERVICE AS PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 53 OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4091

WHEREAS, martial law has been declared under
Presidential Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972 and is now
in effect throughout the land;

WHEREAS, under Section Fifty Three of the National Defense
Act, as amended by Republic Act Four Thousand Ninety One, trainees are
required to undergo training and service for eighteen consecutive months
with at least six months of military training, after which they may be
assigned for duty and service with elements of the Regular Force; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for the extension of
service of trainees beyond eighteen months to assist regular troops in
the implementation of the cited Proclamation No. 1081 and decrees,
general orders, and letters of instructions issued pursuant thereto;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by the Constitution
as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General
Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby order and decree that
after completion of the training and service tour of each trainee as
prescribed under Section Fifty Three of the National Defense Act, as
amended by Republic Act No. 4091, such trainee may thereafter be drafted
into selective emergency military service for a period not exceeding
twelve months and any selected draftee who refuses to render such
service shall be punished as a Military Tribunal created under General
Order No 8 may direct In case of vacancies for enlistment in the Regular
Force, the best qualified draftees shall be given priority in fining up
such vacancies: Provided, That a draftee shall receive the base pay and
allowances equivalent to that of a private in the Regular Force and if
employed for combat operations shall be entitled to all benefits
received by any member of the Regular Force: Provided, further, That for
every year of training and service, to include the emergency military
selective, service herein provided for, a draftee shall receive a
separation gratuity of not less than one month salary upon the condition
that a period of six months shall be considered a complete year for
purposes of this gratuity: Provided, finally That a draftee or those who
rendered service as contemplated above shall be given priority in
appointments in the government service, commensurate to his training
experience and educational qualifications, provisions of the Civil
Service Law to the contrary notwithstanding.

All laws, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby
amended or modified accordingly.

The Secretary of National
Defense shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement
this Decree.

Done in the City of Manila, this 6th day of May, in
the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.