GIVING THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE THE POWER TO PLACE ANY CITY OR MUNICIPAL POLICE FORCE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY AND THE POWER TO LIFT SUCH CONTROL

WHEREAS, pursuant to Proclamations No. 1081, dated September
21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973, martial law has been
declared throughout the Philippines, with among other objectives, the
restoration of peace and order and the security and preservation of the
State;

WHEREAS, pursuant to General Order No. 3, dated September
22, 1972, it was ordered by me that all executive departments, bureaus,
offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government,
government-owned or controlled corporations as well as all governments
of all the provinces, cities and municipalities and barrios throughout
the land shall continue to function under their present officers and
employees and in accordance with existing laws, until otherwise ordered
by me or by my duly designated representative;

WHEREAS, in view of the above-mentioned provisions of
General Order No. 3, and whenever the interest of peace and order may
require, the police forces of some cities and municipalities have to be
placed under the control of the Philippine Constabulary which can be
done only by me pursuant to Republic Act No. 4864, otherwise known as,
the “Police Act of 1966,” as amended; and

WHEREAS, in order to expedite the placement of a city or
municipal police force under the control of the Philippine Constabulary,
or the lifting thereof, it is necessary that the power to place any
city or municipal police force under Constabulary control as well as the
power to lift such control, shall also be exercised by the Secretary of
National Defense;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, pursuant to
Proclamations No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and No. 1104, dated
January 17, 1973, and in my capacity as Commander-in-Chief of all the
Armed Forces of the Philippines, do hereby order and decree that the
Secretary of National Defense may, upon the basis of the recommendation
of the Chief of Constabulary, place any city or municipal police force
under the control of the Philippine Constabulary, or lift such
Constabulary control, in his own discretion, or as directed by me.

All existing laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with this
Decree are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

The
Secretary of National Defense may promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the purposes of this Decree.

Done in the
City of Manila, this 4th day of April, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-three.