CREATING A PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE RELATIVE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROCLAMATION NO. 889 DATED AUGUST 21, 1971, SUSPENDING THE PRIVILEGE OF THE WRIT OF…

WHEREAS, on the basis of the carefully evaluated information, it has been established that lawless element in the country have joined forces for the avowed purpose of waging an armed rebellion, forcibly to seize political power and overthrow the duly constituted authorities;

WHEREAS, it has therefore become necessary to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and whereas the privileges has in fact already been suspended under Proclamation No. 889, dated August 21, 1971;

WHEREAS, there is a need to constitute a machinery which shall have the power within the limits of constitutional law to look into possible excesses that may result in the implementation of the aforesaid Proclamation and to which any aggrieved person may look up to for speedy redress;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by law, do hereby constitute a Presidential Administrative Assistance Committee to hear complaints of abuses which may result in the implementation of Proclamation No. 889 dated August 21, 1971, suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus composed of the following:

Hon. Catalino Macaraig, Jr.         Undersecretary of Justice	–	Chairman
Hon. Efren Plana         Undersecretary of National Defense	–	Member
Atty. Ronaldo B. Zamora         Special Assistant to the Executive  Secretary	–	Member

The Peace and Order Coordinating Council shall serve as the Secretariat of the Committee.

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

Done in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 26th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-one.

By the President:

(SGD.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary