WHEREAS, Memorandum Order No. 152, dated 26 October 2004 delineated the duties and functions of certain officials in the Office of the President;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me under the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (CPLC) shall advise the President with legal advice on matters requiring her action.

The CPLC shall have the following duties and functions:

1. Exercise administrative supervision over the Office of the CPLC;
   
2. Review and/or draft legal orders referred to him by the President on the following matters that are the subject of decisions by the President;
   
3. Sit as a member of the National Security Council Cabinet Group and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council;
   
4. Perform such other duties and functions as the President may assign from time to time, or as may be provided by an appropriate issuance or directive.

SECTION 2. The Executive Secretary shall review decisions on investigations involving Cabinet Secretaries, agency heads or Presidential appointees with the rank of Secretary conducted by the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission.

SECTION 3. The National Economic and Development Authority Cabinet Group shall be composed of the Secretaries of the Departments directly dealing  with the economy, such as the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Socio-Economic Planning, Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Tourism, Natural Resources, Transportation, Public Works and Highways and Information and Communications Technology.

SECTION 4. The Chairman of the Office of the President Search Committee, Chairman Bernardo Abes, shall screen all appointments, including those to the Judiciary.

SECTION 5. The Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs and Undersecretary Enrique D. Perez of the Executive Office shall assist the Executive Secretary in the review and resolution of legal matters elevated to the Office of the President.

SECTION 6. The Anti-Corruption Swift Action Team is hereby abolished.

SECTION 7. Memorandum Order No. 152 is hereby modified.

SECTION 8. This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 21 Dec. 2006


(SGD.) GLORIA M. ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary