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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS
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ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 157 - 2006
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 157 –
CREATING AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO ADDRESS MEDIA AND ACTIVIST
KILLINGS
WHEREAS, the Philippines is a bastion of
human rights;
WHEREAS, the Arroyo Administration stopped judicial executions with the
abolition of death penalty;
WHEREAS, the Arroyo Administration condemns political killings in the
harshest possible terms;
WHEREAS, the Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police
have been given a 10-week deadline to jail suspects in at least 10
media or leftists killings.
WHEREAS, the investigations shall not spare any sector;
WHEREAS, this task requires the cooperation not only on the part of law
enforcement authorities and the military, but also among the families
of the victims and other sectors concerned;
WHEREAS, witnesses are urged to come forward;
NOW, THEREFORE I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
Section 1. Creation and Mandate – There is hereby Created An Independent
Commission to Address Media and Activist Killings
Sec. 2. Composition - The
Commission shall be composed of the following:
1. Prioritize and focus investigation of media and activist killings:
2. Be the
Government’s sole voice on the issue of media and activist killings;
3. Make a report to
the President outlining its action and policy recommendations
Sec. 4. Prosecution – The
Government members of the Commission, namely the NBI Director and the
Chief State Prosecutor, shall form a team to prioritize the prosecution
of media and activist killings which shall be mandated to put the
murderers behind bar at the soonest possible time.
Sec. 5. Powers – The Commission
shall have, among others, the following powers:
a)
It shall have all the powers of an investigative body under Sec. 37,
Chapter 9, Book I of the Administrative Code of 1987, including the
power to summon witnesses, administer oath, take testimony or evidence
relevant to the investigation and to issue compulsory processes to
produce documents, books, records and such other matters in the
performance of its functions;
b) It shall have the power to
clear or disapprove all pertinent media statements by any member of the
Administration;
c) It shall have the power to
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Administrative Order;
d) It shall have the power to
call upon any agency of the Government for such assistance as it may
require in the discharge of its functions;
e) It shall have the power to
engage the services of resource persons, professionals and other
personnel which may be necessary to carry out its functions;
f) It shall have the power to
deputize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of
Investigation, the Philippine National Police, the Department of
Justice, and any other law enforcement agency to assist it in the
performance of its functions;
g) It shall have the power to
perform any other acts as may be necessary and appropriate to implement
this Order.
Sec. 6. General Counsel – Atty. Rogelio Vinluan shall serve as General Counsel to assist the Commission in the discharge of its functions.
Sec. 7. Secretariat – The
Commission shall be an independent body. It shall be supported by a
Secretariat composed of technical and administrative personnel which
shall provide staff support to the Commission.
Sec. 8. Funding – The Office of
the President shall provide the funds for the operation of the
Commission.
Sec. 9. Agencies’ Support – The
various departments, bureaus, offices, agencies or instrumentalities
including government-owned or – controlled corporations are hereby
directed to extend such assistance and cooperation as the Commission
may need in the discharge of its functions.
Sec. 10. Effectivity – This
Administrative Order shall take effect immediately upon its publication
in a national newspaper of general circulation.
DONE, in the City of Manila, this 21st day of August, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Six.
(Sgd.)
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
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Since 19.07.98.