WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 1017 dated 24 February 2006 was issued declaring a State of National Emergency in order to maintain law and order, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well as any act of insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations;

WHEREAS, to implement Proclamation No. 1017, General Order No. 5 dated 24 February 2006 was issued calling upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism and lawless violence in the country and to immediately carry out necessary and appropriate actions and measures to prevent and suppress the same;

WHEREAS, due to the scope of the operation, the amount of resources and manpower required, and the need for accurate disclosure and exchange of information and reports regarding militant and extremist activities, there is a need for the AFP to coordinate with the PNP and other law enforcement agencies to effectively implement Proclamation No. 1017 and General Order No. 5;

WHEREAS, Section 3, Article II of the Constitution declares that civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, by virtue of the powers vested in me under the Constitution as President of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1017 dated February 24, 2006, do hereby direct the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to coordinate with the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the heads of other law enforcement agencies to, under my instruction and directives, undertake such actions as may be necessary to prevent and suppress lawless violence.

Further, the Chief of Staff of the AFP is directed to coordinate with the Office of the President, the Secretary of National Defense, the Department of National Defense, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Secretary of Justice, the Department of Justice, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Transportation and Communications, the Department of Transportation and Communications, and such other officials and agencies on their respective responsibilities and obligation to successfully implement Proclamation No. 1017.

Adopted: 24 Feb. 2006

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

By the President:

(SGD.) EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary