TO:

The Secretary of National Defense The Secretary of Foreign Affairs The Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communication The Secretary of Justice The Secretary of Public Information The Administrator, Civil Aeronautics Administration The Director-General, National Intelligence and Security Authority

In view of the series of aircraft hijackings which have threatened the airline industry and civil aviation, it has now become necessary to institute further adequate measures to secure effectively all airports against such offensive and terroristic acts.

The above considered, you are hereby constituted into a National Action Committee on Anti-Hijacking, with the Secretary of National Defense as Chairman, to formulate plans for, coordinate, integrate, direct, control and supervise all measures aimed at preventing/suppressing any and all forms of hijacking; ensuring the safe and continuous operation of civil aviation; and handling all incidents of hijacking to include immediate and follow-up actions to be taken up to the termination or resolution thereof.

The measures that you will adopt should be geared towards a "total systems approach" to the problem of preventing and suppressing these hijackings. These measures will include, among others; a provision for an adequate organization for planning and implementation at all levels; organization of a control and coordinating center which can effect immediate response from all tasked units or agencies, with a clear delineation of their respective authority and functions; and formulation of guidelines for the mass media in reporting on incidents of hijacking in order not to prejudice the effectiveness of anti-hijacking plans and operations.

The Committee is authorized to call directly on other departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government and the civilian airlines for assistance in the effective implementation of this LOI.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 28th day of April, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Six.

SOURCE: CD ASIA