GRANTING GENERAL AMNESTY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS, OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER PE…

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 364, dated January 3, 1974,
declared and decreed “A General Amnesty For All Persons Who, As First
Offenders, Failed To Register and/or Vote As Required” in connection
with the national referendum of July 27-28, 1973;

WHEREAS, in the aforecited Decree the leadership of
Government expressed determination to pursue a policy to unify the
nation and to encourage the citizenry to direct their attention and
efforts to constructive activities without distraction;

WHEREAS, this policy should be broadened in its application
so that the benefits to be derived therefrom may be extended to more
members of the society;

WHEREAS, it is of record that many public schoolteachers,
other officials and employees of the Government including members of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines are facing charges before various
courts, tribunals, and/or administrative bodies for violation of
election laws and other related statutes in connection with the
elections of 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and the election of Delegates to the
Constitutional Convention; and that these cases are still pending
preliminary investigation or trial on the merits, despite the long
period that has lapsed since the filing thereof;

WHEREAS, it is of public knowledge that the public
schoolteachers and other faithful government officials and employees
committed infractions or offenses in the performance of their election
duties due to forces beyond their will or power to resist;

WHEREAS, the pendency of these cases has caused great
anxiety, worry and tension on the part of those involved and the members
of their families, affecting not only their efficiency as public
officials but also their peace of mind as citizens of the nation:

WHEREAS, with respect to other persons, the pendency of such
cases is not conducive to national unity as it alienates them from the
New Society; and

WHEREAS, as a continuing effort to the leadership of
Government to heal the wounds inflicted in the past and to provide a
fresh start for all concerned to help build the New Society, it is
proper and advisable to relieve the persons involved of further stress
or strain;

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

SECTION 1. General Amnesty is hereby granted to all public
schoolteachers, other government officials and employees, members of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines facing charges for violation of
election laws or other related statutes in connection with the elections
of 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and the election of Delegates to the
Constitutional Convention subject to the conditions provided in the
succeeding section.

SEC. 2. The following persons shall not he entitled to the
amnesty herein granted:

1. Those whose violations were committed in band; and
2. Those whose violations involved violence or terrorism
   resulting in physical injury to or death of any person.

SEC. 3. All such pending cases shall be remanded to the
Commission on Elections for die purpose of determining after hearing, if
necessary, whether the defendants therein are entitled to amnesty under
the conditions herein provided.

For purposes of this Section the
courts shall transmit to the Commission on Elections any and all
records of the cases herein referred to.

SEC. 4. The
Commission on Elections shall submit a report to the President on the
action taken under this Decree.

SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of April, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.