[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 1, February 28, 1986 ]

CREATING THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT



WHEREAS, vast resources of the government have been amassed by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, his immediate family, relatives, and close associates both here and abroad;

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to recover all ill-gotten wealth;

NOW THEREFORE, I CORAZON C AQUINO, President of the Philippines, do hereby order:

Section.   1.  There is hereby created a Commission; to be known as the Presidential Commission on Good Government composed of Minister Jovito R. Salonga, as Chairman. Mr. Ramon Diaz. Mr. Pedro L. Yap. Mr. Raul Daza and Ms. Mary Concepcion Bautista as Commissioners.

Section.  2.  The Commission shall be charged with the task of assisting the President in regard to the following matters:
(a)  The recovery of all ill-gotten wealth accumulated by former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, his immediate family, relatives. subordinates and close associates, whether located in the Philippines or abroad, including the takeover or sequestration of all business enterprises and entities owned or controlled by them during his administration, directly or through nominees, by taking undue advantage of their public office and/or using their powers, authority influence, connections or relationship.
The investigation of such cases of graft and corruption as the President may assign to the Commission from time to time
The adoption of safeguards to ensure that the above practices shall not be repeated in any manner under the new government, and the institution of adequate measures to prevent the occurrence of corruption.

Section.  3.  The Commission shall have the power and authority:

(a)  To conduct investigations as may be necessary in order to accomplish and carry out the purposes of this order.
To sequester or place or cause to be placed under its control. or possession any building or office wherein any ill-gotten wealth or properties may be found, and any records pertaining thereto, in order to prevent their destruction, concealment or disappearance which would frustrate or hamper the investigation or otherwise prevent the Commission from accomplishing its task.
c)  To provisionally take over in the public interest or to prevent its disposal or dissipation, business enterprises and properties taken over by the government of the Marcos Administration or by entities or persons close to former President Marcos, until  the transactions leading to such acquisition by the latter can be disposed of by the appropriate authorities
(d)  To enjoin or restrain any actual or threatened commission of acts by any person or entity that may render moot and academic, or frustrate, or otherwise make ineffectual the efforts of the Commission to carry out its tasks under this order.
(e)    To administer oaths, and  issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and/or the production of such books, papers, contracts, records, statement of accounts and other documents as may be material to the investigation conducted by the Commission.
(f)    To hold any person in direct or indirect contempt and impose the appropriate penalties following the same procedures and penalties provided in the Rules of Court.
(g)    To seek and secure the assistance of any office, agency or instrumentality of the government.
(h)    To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order.

Section. 4.  (a)  No civil action shall lie against the commission or any member thereof for anything done or omitted in the discharge of the task contemplated by this order
(b)    No member or staff of the commission shall be required to testify or produce evidence in any judicial, legislative or administrative proceeding concerning matters within its official cognizance

Sectlon 5. It is hereby directed that, subject to the availability of funds, the amount of Fifty Million Pesos, or so much thereof, as may be needed to carry out the purposes of this order, be set aside out of the funds of the National Treasury and made available for the expenditure of the Commission.

Section 6. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this twenty-eight day of February, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty six

(Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO
President

Authority of the President:

(Sgd.) JOKER P. ARROYO
Executive Secretary