EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 56
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 56 -
AUTHORIZING THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT TO TAKE
PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OF CHILD PROSTITUTES AND SEXUALLY EXPLOITED
CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS,
for those who fall prey to prostitution and other forms of sexual
exploitation due to their fragile age, immediate protection must be
accorded by the government to arrest their moral decline and lead them
back to the path of morality;
WHEREAS, in pursuance of its responsibility over the welfare of the
youth, the Ministry of Social Services and Development must be given
more powers to implement effectively the government’s commitment
against child prostitution and exploitation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do
hereby by order:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to
the contrary, any minor who is apprehended or taken into custody by any
peace officer of by the duly authorized officers of the Ministry of
Social Services and Development for engaging in prostitution or other
illicit conduct punished under existing laws shall, immediately from
such apprehension, be delivered by the arresting officer to the
Ministry of Social Services and Development or to its duly authorized
office or agency within a particular territorial jurisdiction for
protective custody.
The Ministry of Social Services and Development shall be responsible
for the appearance of the minor under its protective custody in court
or any administrative agency whenever required.
For the purpose of this Executive Order, a minor shall refer to any
person below sixteen (16) years of age.
Sec. 2. The Ministry of Social Services and
Development shall provide suitable programs for the full rehabilitation
of the minors under its custody which shall, among others, include the
appreciation of proper moral values, psychological or psychiatric
treatment, education in the probable physical ailment or disease which
they may contract or the dangers of unwanted pregnancy, and appropriate
training for work-skills to prepare them for a decent living.
Sec. 3. The custody of persons, other than the
apprehended minor, shall be in accordance with the ordinary criminal
procedure as prescribed by the Rules of Court and other
laws.
Sec. 4. The Ministry of Social Services and
Development shall notify the mayors of the municipalities and cities of
the business establishments, clubs, or houses, used or allowed to be
used for prostitution of minors, and petition for the immediate
forfeiture of their business licenses and closure of their business
establishments.
Sec. 5. The sum of Three Million Pesos
(P3,000,000.00)s hereby appropriated out of any available funds in the
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses of
the Ministry of Social Services and Development in the implementation
of this Executive Order. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for
this purpose shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.
Sec. 6. The Ministry of Social Services and
Development is hereby authorized to call upon any ministry, bureau,
office, agency or instrumentality of the government for assistance in
the implementation of this Executive Order.
Sec. 7. The Ministry of Social Services and
Development shall, in coordination with the Ministry of Justice,
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this
Executive Order.
Sec. 8. All laws, orders, issuances and rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 9. This Executive Order shall take effect
immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 6th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
eighty-six.
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Since 19.07.98.