TO:	The Minister, Ministry of the Budget The Chairman, Civil Service Commission The Chairman, Commission on Audit

WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections has reported the existence of a number of vacant positions in said Commission brought about by various causes such as transfer, resignation, or death of former incumbents, or the termination of the appointments of the entire staffs of retired Chairman and Commissioners, which are co-terminous with the term of Office of the Chairman and Commissioners;

WHEREAS, said vacant positions perform vital services essential to the effective performance of the constitutional and statutory functions of the Commission, more particularly the judicious and prompt disposition of pending election cases;

WHEREAS, the non-filling of said vacant positions not only hampers the operations of the Commission but also may affect adversely the people's faith in the Commission.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, do hereby order and instruct the above-named Ministry and Commissions to allow the filling of vacancies in the Commission on Elections as an exception to the ban provided under existing letters of instructions, particularly Letter of Instructions No. 981.

Done in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.