MAKING PUBLIC THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE, DECEMBER 9, 1948.

WHEREAS_; the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, as approved by the General
Assembly of the United Nations during its Third Session on December 9, 1948,
was signed by the authorized representative of the Philippines on Decmber 11,
1948;

WHEREAS, the Senate of the Congress of the
Philippines, by its Resolution No. 9 adopted on February 28, 1950, concurred in
the ratification by the President of the Philippines of the aforesaid
Convention in accordance with the Constitution of the Philippines,
subject to the following reservations:

“1. With reference to Article IV of the
Convention, the Philippine Government cannot sanction any situation which would
subject its Head of State, who is not a ruler, to conditions less favorable
than those accorded other Heads of State, whether constitutionally responsible
rulers or not. The Philippine Government does not consider said Article,
therefore, as overriding the existing immunities from judicial processes
guaranteed certain public officials by the Constitution of the Philippines.

“2. With reference to Article VII of the
Convention, the Philippine Government does not undertake to give effect to the
said Article until the Congress of the Philippines has enacted the necessary
legislation defining and punishing the crime of genocide, which legislation,
under the Constitution of the Philippines, cannot have any retroactive effect.

“3. With reference to Article VI and IX of the
Constitution, the Philippine Government takes the position that nothing
contained in the said Article shall be construed as depriving Philippine courts
of jurisdiction over all cases of genocide committed within Philippine
territory save only in those cases where the Philippine Government consents to
have the decision of the Philippine courts reviewed by either of the
international tribunals referred to in said Articles. With further reference to
Article IX of the Convention, the Philippine Government does not consider said
Article to extend the concept of State responsibility beyond that recognized by
the generally accepted principles of international law.”

WHEREAS, the instrument of ratification of the
Republic of the Philippines, subject to the above-quoted reservations, was
signed by the President on June 23, 1950 and deposited on July 7, 1950 with the
Secretary-General of the United Nations:

WHEREAS, the Convention entered into force on
January 12, 1951, ninety days following the date of deposit of the twentieth
instrument of ratification or accession, that is on October 14, 1950, in
accordance with Article XIII thereof; and,

WHEREAS, as regards the Philippines, the
Convention entered into force on January 12, 1951, having deposited its
instrument of ratification on July 7, 1950;

NOW THEREFORE, be it known that I, Ramon
Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, in pursuance of the aforesaid
concurrence of the Senate of the Congress of the Philippines and subject to the
reservations above-quoted, do hereby proclaim and make public the said
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, a copy of
which is hereto attached, to the end that the same and every article and clause
thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the Republic of the
Philippines and the citizens thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused to be affixed the seal of the Republic of the Philippines.

Done in the City of Manila, Philippines, this
16th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
fifty-six, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the tenth.

RAMON MAGSAYSAY
President of the Philippines

By the President:
FORTUNATO DE LEON
Acting Executive Secretary