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

SECTION 1. Section 3, Rule 1 of Administrative Order No. 195 dated 10 September 1990 is hereby amended to read, as follows:

œSec. 3. Investigating Authority. - The Secretary of Justice is hereby designated as the Investigating Authority. He may assign an Investigator or constitute an Investigating Committee in the Department of Justice for the purpose. 

SEC. 2. Section 1 of Rule 4 is hereby amended to read, as follows:

œSection 1. Grounds. - At any time after the issues are joined, the respondent may be placed under preventive suspension by the Disciplining Authority upon the recommendation of the Investigating Authority when there is reasonable ground to believe that the respondent has committed the act or acts complained of; when the evidence of culpability is strong; when the gravity of the offense so warrants; or when the continuance in office of the respondent could influence the witnesses or pose a threat to the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence. 

SEC. 3. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 27th day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety-one.


By the President:
(Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON
Executive Secretary