I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created an ad hoc Presidential Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the Manila Hotel Incident on July 6, 1986, under the supervision and control of the Office of the President.

SECTION 2. The Committee shall be composed of the following:

1. Hon. Alfredo Bengzon Chairman 2. Hon. Rafael Ileto Member 3. Hon. Jesus de Ayala Member 4. Hon. Emmanuel Soriano Member 5. Hon. Fulgencio Factoran, Jr. Member

SECTION 3. The primary task of the Committee is to investigate all circumstances involving the Manila Hotel Incident on July 6-8, 1986, and thereafter submit its report and recommendations to the President of the Philippines as soon as practicable. The Committee and all persons or personnel appointed, designated or contracted by it shall not be subject to civil service law, rules and regulations. Moreover, membership in the Committee shall not be construed as in conflict with any other public or private position or profession that the members may hold or practice. Members may designate alternates if they cannot attend a particular meeting or meetings of the Committee.

SECTION 4. The Committee shall exercise the following powers:

1. To administer oaths or affirmations by itself, by a member, or by duly authorized representatives;
   
   
2. To take such testimony and other evidence as it may deem relevant to any investigation conducted by it or under its authority;
   
   
3. To issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum subjecting any person to attend and testify at any hearing conducted by, or under authority of the Committee, or at any meeting thereof, or for the taking of his deposition, and to bring with him or produce any books, papers, records, documents or other things under his supervision or control, including documents, books or other things that have been classified by government, past or present;
   
   
4. To grant immunity from prosecution to any person whose testimony, or whose possession of documents or other evidence, is necessary or convenient to determine the truth in any investigation conducted by it or under its authority;
   
   
5. To hold any person in direct or indirect contempt, and to impose the appropriate penalties, following the same procedure and penalties provided for in the Rules of Court;
   
   
6. To call upon any ministry, bureau, office, or agency of the new government for assistance or reform, which shall forthwith be furnished or accomplished by such government unit; and
   
   
7. To adopt the forms, hire the staff, fix their salaries, appropriate the budget, promulgate such rules and regulations and, in general, to do all acts and things as may be necessary or convenient to carry out this order.

SECTION 5. Presidential immunity shall extend to the members and staff of the Committee when acting within their duties, functions, powers and authority. No civil action shall lie against the Committee or any member thereof for anything done or omitted in the discharge of the task contemplated by this Order.

SECTION 6. The Committee is hereby empowered to call upon any ministry, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government for assistance in the discharge of its functions.

SECTION 7. All expenses of the Committee shall be charged to the Special Activities Fund, subject to the availability of funds and the usual audit.

SECTION 8. This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 17th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty six.


By the President:
(Sgd.) FULGENCIO S. FACTORAN, JR.
Deputy Executive Secretary