WHEREAS, pursuant to Proclamations No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973, martial law has been declared throughout the Philippines, with among other objectives, the restoration of peace and order and the security and preservation of the State;

WHEREAS, pursuant to General Order No. 3, dated September 22, 1972, it was ordered by me that all executive departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, government-owned or controlled corporations as well as all governments of all the provinces, cities and municipalities and barrios throughout the land shall continue to function under their present officers and employees and in accordance with existing laws, until otherwise ordered by me or by my duly designated representative;

WHEREAS, in view of the above-mentioned provisions of General Order No. 3, and whenever the interest of peace and order may require, the police forces of some cities and municipalities have to be placed under the control of the Philippine Constabulary which can be done only by me pursuant to Republic Act No. 4864, otherwise known as, the "Police Act of 1966," as amended; and

WHEREAS, in order to expedite the placement of a city or municipal police force under the control of the Philippine Constabulary, or the lifting thereof, it is necessary that the power to place any city or municipal police force under Constabulary control as well as the power to lift such control, shall also be exercised by the Secretary of National Defense;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, pursuant to Proclamations No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973, and in my capacity as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, do hereby order and decree that the Secretary of National Defense may, upon the basis of the recommendation of the Chief of Constabulary, place any city or municipal police force under the control of the Philippine Constabulary, or lift such Constabulary control, in his own discretion, or as directed by me.

All existing laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

The Secretary of National Defense may promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Decree.

Done in the City of Manila, this 4th day of April, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.