WHEREAS, the increasing incidence of crimes committed against tourists, investors, and other foreign visitors is projecting a negative image for our country abroad;

WHEREAS, it is imperative that further appropriate and forceful measures be taken not only to protect and safeguard foreign visitors from such criminal activities, but also to enhance the general peace and order situation in our tourist-oriented areas, and improve the overall investment climate in the country;

WHEREAS, one such appropriate measure recommended by the Department of Interior and Local Government is the creation of a Special Committee to be composed of various government agencies for the specific purpose of addressing the problem of crimes being committed against foreign visitors;

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

SECTION 1. There shall be created a Special Committee which shall be composed of the following:

Undersecretary for Peace & Order, DILG

-

Chairman

Undersecretary for Planning, Development and Coordination, DOT

-

Member

Chief of Staff, AFP

-

-do-

Chief, Philippine National Police

-

-do-

Director, National Bureau of Investigation

-

-do-

Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation

-

-do-

Commissioner, Bureau of Customs

-

-do-

Director, Land Transportation Office

-

-do-

General Manager, Manila International Airport Authority

-

-do-

Governor, Central Bank of the Philippines

-

-do-

Commissioner, Economic Intelligence & Investigation Bureau

-

-do-

The Committee shall formulate plans to coordinate, integrate, direct, control and supervise all measures aimed at preventing or suppressing all crimes committed against foreign visitors with the end in view of ensuring their personal safety and peaceful sojourn in the country.

The Committee shall adopt measures geared towards a œtotal approach  to the problem of effectively preventing the commission of crimes against foreign visitors and expeditiously solving such crimes which may henceforth be committed. Such measures shall include a provision for an adequate organization for planning and implementation at all levels; organization of a control and coordinating center which can effect immediate response from all tasked units or agencies, with a clear delineation of their respective authority and functions; and formulation of guidelines for the mass media in reporting incidents involving crimes against foreign visitors in order not to prejudice the effectiveness of operations against criminal syndicates and other dubious elements preying on these foreign nationals.

SEC. 2. The Committee is hereby authorized to call upon all departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and institutions for assistance in the effective implementation of its above functions.

DONE in the City of Manila this 9th day of May in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-one.


By the President:
(Sgd.) OSCAR M. ORBOS
Executive Secretary