CREATING THE PRESIDENTIAL FACT-FINDING AND POLICY ADVISORY COMMISSION ON THE PROTECTION OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS

12.00

WHEREAS, recent events have evoked the nation’s serious concern for and
recognition of overseas Filipinos;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Philippine Government to be firmly
committed to the protection of overseas Filipinos;

WHEREAS, certain claims and assertions as well as accusations have been
made against some officials of the Philippine Government in connection with its
efforts to protect overseas Filipinos;

WHEREAS, there is a need to determine with utmost certainty the
circumstances surrounding recent events involving the policies and actions of
government in relation to the protection of overseas Filipinos; and

WHEREAS, much can be learned from instances in which such policies and
actions of government have succeeded and from those which did not lead to the
desired results.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The
Presidential Commission. – There is hereby created a Presidential
Fact-Finding and Policy Advisory Commission on the Protection of Overseas Filipinos,
hereinafter referred to as the Commission. The Commission shall immediately
begin its work once it is constituted and shall accomplish its objectives
within three (3) months thereof, after which, unless otherwise ordered by the
President, the Commission shall be dissolved.

Section 2. Composition.
– The Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and six (6) members to be
appointed by the President, as follows:

2.1. A retired Justice of the
Supreme Court as Chairman;

2.2. Two (2) members to represent
overseas contract workers and organized labor, respectively;

2.3. One (1) member to represent
employers;

2.4. One (1) member to represent
the Department of Social Welfare and Development;

2.5. One (1) member to represent
the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women; and

2.6. One (1) member to represent
the public-at-large.

Section 3. Objectives.
The Commission shall have the following objectives:

3.1. Determine particular and
general facts and circumstances involving the policies and actions of the
Philippine Government and its agents or officials in relation to the protection
of overseas Filipinos, particularly cases involving the criminal conviction of
overseas Filipinos, including the case of Mrs. Flor Contemplacion; and

3.2. Make recommendations with a
view to improving to improving the protection afforded by the Philippine
Government to overseas Filipinos, consonant with international conventions and
standards.

Section 4. Mandate.
– The Commission, taking into consideration its objectives, shall have the
following mandate:

4.1. Inquire into, examine and
probe individual cases involving the protection of overseas Filipino;

Seek the views and opinions of
and coordinate with the different sectors of Philippine society, including
people’s organizations, cooperatives, media, and other non-government
organizations;

Identify instances which may
require the filing of administrative and other charges against Philippine
Government officials and private individuals, and recommend the filing of such
criminal or administrative charges as the case may be;

4.4. Formulate recommendations,
to include legislative measures, for the improvement of the protection of
overseas Filipinos by the Philippine Government; and

4.5. Submit a report on the Mrs.
Flor Contemplacion case to the President within fifteen (15) days from the
constitution of the Commission.

Section 5. Powers and
Functions. – The Commission, in view of its objectives and in the
discharge of its mandate, is hereby empowered to:

5.1. Call on any department,
instrumentality or agency of the government for assistance and cooperation;

5.2. In accordance with existing
laws, regulations and procedures, issue compulsory processes to private
individuals, groups or organizations as well as government officials;

5.3. Through appropriate
diplomatic channels and with due regard to diplomatic considerations, request
for the cooperation of foreign governments; and

5.4. Promulgate its own
administrative and procedural rules and regulations to govern its actions and
operations

Section 6. Secretariat.
– The Commission shall be assisted by a Secretariat that shall provide
administrative and office support to the Commission to be composed of persons
appointed by the Chairman.

Section 7. Technical
Panel. – There is hereby constituted a Technical Panel composed of
recognized and responsible experts to be appointed by the Chairman in the
fields of law, labor, social welfare, and other relevant fields to provide
technical assistance and advice to the Commission. In order to provide an
effective line of communication and coordination with the appropriate
departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the Philippine Government,
officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment,
Justice, Social Welfare and Development, Health, the Overseas Workers Welfare
and  Administration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
may be invited to serve as members of the Technical Panel.

Section 8. Office.
– In coordination with agencies of the Philippine Government, including
government-owned or controlled corporation, the Commission shall be provided
with appropriate office space.

Section 9. Funding.
– Without prejudice to the provision of additional funds, the initial amount of
Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) from the President’s Contingent Fund is
hereby provided for the operations of the Commission.

Section 10. Effectivity.
– This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the city of Manila, this 20th day of March in the year of Our
Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Five.

(Sgd.) FIDEL
V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}