WHEREAS, Bacolod City Ordinance No. 606 (s. 2012) provides for the creation of Barangay Paglaum in the City of Bacolod;

WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), through its Resolution No. 9821 (s. 2013), resolved to request the concurrence of the President in the deputation of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), in connection with the 11 January 2014 Plebiscite to ratify the creation of Barangay Paglaum in the City of Bacolod; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2 (4), Article IX-C of the Constitution, the COMELEC is empowered to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby concur with COMELEC Resolution No. 9821, deputizing the NAPOLCOM and PNP to assist COMELEC in ensuring the free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible conduct of the 11 January 2014 Plebiscite to ratify the creation of Barangay Paglaum in the City of Bacolod.

The foregoing law enforcement and other concerned agencies are hereby directed to coordinate and cooperate with the COMELEC in the performance of their duties and functions.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Thirteen.

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary