PROVIDING FOR REWARDS AND INCENTIVES TO GOVERNMENT WITNESSES AND INFORMANTS AND OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, reports from law enforcement agencies reveal that
crimes against National Security or Public Order and organized/syndicated crime
in the country are becoming sophisticated, diversified, and widespread;

WHEREAS, such criminal activities have resulted not only in
the wanton destruction of lives and properties but have likewise weakened the
Nation’s economic stability, threatened its security and underlined the general
welfare of its citizens;

WHEREAS, said criminal activities continue to grow because
of the inadequate evidence-gathering process of the law and the seeming, apathy
of the citizens in testifying against entrenched and feared malefactors;

WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to neutralize crimes
against National Security or Public Order or organized/syndicated crime in this
country before they grow to unmanageable proportions by providing rewards,
incentives, protection and, in certain cases, immunity from criminal prosecution
to government witnesses, so that the total commitment of our people on the side
of law enforcement may be encouraged.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution do hereby
order and decree the following:

SECTION l. Definition of Terms. – The following
terms shall mean and be ‘understood/ construed as follows:

1. Government – means the Republic of the Philippines, any political
   subdivision, or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
2. Organized/Syndicated Crime – means any crime committed by an
   organized/syndicated crime group, including, but not limited to, arson, robbery
   (hold-up), kidnapping for ransom, prostitution, illegal recruitment, carnapping,
   smuggling and piracy, cattle rustling, illicit drug trafficking labor rackets,
   land title rackets, manufacture and/or circulation of fake documents, license,
   stamps, currencies, and other government forms, counterfeiting and bank frauds,
   consumer frauds and other illegal activities of such croups.
3. Organized/Syndicated Crime Group – means a group of two (2) or more
   persons collaborating, confederating or mutually helping one another in the
   commission of any organized/ syndicated crime.
4. Witness – shall refer to any person who, having organs of sense,
   can perceive and, perceiving, can make known his perception to others.
5. Vital Informations – shall mean any information, document, book,
   writing, or any other evidence necessary to build up the people’s dase and/or
   secure the conviction of criminals.

SEC. 2. Whenever in the Judgement of the Minister of
National Defense testimony from, or a willingness to testify by a witness, would
place in danger the witness life or person, or the life or person of a merger of
his family or household, the Minister of National Defense, upon the
recommendation of the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary or the chief of any
law enforcement agency, is hereby authorized to:

1. Provide for the security of such witness who testified/ is willing to
   testify, or who provided/is willing to provide vital information leading to the
   arrest and/or prosecution of any member of an organized/syndicated crime group
   or person who participated in any organized/syndicated criminal activity, or in
   crimes against national security and public order.
2. Purchase, rent or remodel protected housing, facilities and to otherwise
   offer to provide measures for the health, safety, and welfare of such witnesses
   and potential witnesses and their families. Any person availing himself of an
   offer by the Minister of National Defense to use such facilities may continue to
   use such facilities for as long, as the Minister of National Defense determines
   that there is danger to his life or his person.
3. Upon application of such witnesses, relocate and/or Provide new identities
   to them and their immediate members of their families. For all legal purposes,
   such grant of new domiciles and new identities as duly certified by the Minister
   of National Defense, shall be valid and binding on all courts, ministries,
   agencies and instrumentalities of the government as acquired under the
   provisions of existing law.
4. Grant monetary reward to any such witnesses in the amounts hereinbelow
   provided:

   (1) If the penalty imposable for the crime committed is life imprisonment to
   death, the amount of the reward shall be 50,000 pesos;

   (2) If the penalty imposable for the crime committed is imprisonment of from
   twelve years and one day to twenty years, the amount of the reward shall be
   40,000 pesos;

   (3) If penalty imposable for the crime committed is imprisonment of from six
   years and one day to twelve years, the amount of the reward shall be 30,000
   pesos;

   (4) If the penalty imposable for the crime committed is imprisonment below
   six years shall be 25,000 pesos.

SEC. 3. Whenever in the judgment of the prosecutor or fiscal
the testimony of any witness, who is provided security by the Minister of
National Defense pursuant to Section 2 above, is necessary proper application
for his production and appearance shall be filled with the Ministry of National
Defense.

SEC. 4. Any such informant or witness who shall testify or
provide vital information, regarding the existence or activity of a group
involved in the commission of crimes against national security or public order,
or of an organized/ syndicated crime or crime group, and/or the culpability of
individual members thereof in accordance with this Decree shall, upon
recommendation of the state prosecutor, fiscal or military lawyer, as approved
by the Minister of National Defense or the Minister of Justice, as the case may
be, be immune from criminal prosecution for his participation or involvement in
any such criminal activity which is the subject of the investigation or
prosecution, in addition to the benefits under Sec. 2 hereof: Provided, that,
immunity from criminal prosecution shall, in the case of the witness offering to
testify, attach only upon his actually testifying in court in accordance with
his undertaking as accepted by the state prosecutor, fiscal or military lawyer:
Provided, further, that the following conditions are complied with:

1. There is absolute necessity for the testimony of the witness and/or the
   information given by him regarding the existence or activity of a group involved
   in crimes against national security or public order or of the culpability of
   individual members thereof;
2. That there is no other direct evidence available for the proper prosecution
   of the offense committed, except such testimony and/or such information given by
   him;
3. That such testimony or information can be substantially corroborated in its
   material points; and
4. The witness, if he is a suspect, respondent or defendant in a case either
   under investigation, or filed in court, does not appear to be the most
   guilty.

SEC 5. In all criminal cases, the fact of the witness1
entitlement to the incentives and other benefits provided for in this Decree
shall not be admissible in evidence to diminish or effect his credibility,

SEC. 6. The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of
Justice are authorized to call directly on other ministries, bureaus, offices
and other instrumentalities or agencies of the government, including
government-owned or controlled corporations, in the accomplishment of the above
tasks.

SEC. 7. The amount of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise
appropriated to carry into effect the provisions of this Decree.

SEC. 8. The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of
Justice shall jointly promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to
effectively implement the provisions of this Decree.

SEC. 9. All laws, rules and regulations which are
inconsistent with, this Decree are hereby repealed and/or modified
accordingly,

SEC. 10. Separability clause. — The provisions of
this Decree are hereby declared to be separable, and in the event-one or more of
such provisions are held unconstitutional, the validity of other provisions
shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 11. This Act shall take effect upon its approval,

Done in the City of Manila this 8th day of October, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and eighty.

			(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President of the Philippines
	By the President:
	(Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR.
		Presidential Assistant