WHEREAS, to achieve urgent change, the Macapagal-Arroyo administration shall improve tax collection, pass a budget that shall support the administration's 10-point plan and pro-poor agenda, and take executive action to break the culture of corruption;

WHEREAS, to create more jobs and bring greater prosperity to the Filipino people, it is imperative to stop the culture of corruption that holds back the country's pace of development;

WHEREAS, Executive Authority shall be exerted to prosecute illegal loggers, cancel government contracts with corrupt companies, fire unscrupulous government officials who rob the nation, and restore integrity to the military leaders and soldiers of the nation who put their lives at risk and defend the honor of the nation;

WHEREAS, Congress, the private sector, and civic leaders shall be called on to join in the aforesaid effort;

WHEREAS, the structure needed for results is a campaign model;

WHEREAS, to put the structure to work, a Swift Action Team (SwAT) shall be put in place for each of the key issues: Economy, 10 Point Agenda, Anti-Corruption;

WHEREAS, each SwAT shall have a Team Leader;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Designation of Anti-Corruption SwAT Leader - In addition to the functions under Memorandum Order No. 152 (2004), the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel is hereby designated as Anti-Corruption SwAT Leader.

SECTION 2. Powers and Functions - The Anti-Corruption SwAT Leader is mandated to discharge the following powers and functions:

a. Organize the Anti-Corruption Swift Action Team (SwAT);

b. Work together with the Team to get anti-corruption issues on the President's schedule and/or move forward self-sustaining events;

c. Lead a results-oriented, communications-driven schedule for each 90-day period starting from the date of effectivity of this Executive Order; and

d. Perform such other functions necessary for the effective discharge of this mandate in accordance with law and as may be directed by the President.

SECTION 3. Assistance from Other Government Entities - All departments, bureaus, agencies and instrumentalities of the government are hereby directed/urged to provide full assistance and support to the Anti-Corruption SwAT and its leader.

SECTION 4. The Department of Budget and Management shall determine the funding for the implementation of this Executive Order.

SECTION 5. All orders, rules and regulations, and issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 24 Feb. 2005

(SGD.) GLORIA ARROYO
President

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary