WHEREAS, the Philippines Reparations and Restitution Mission to Japan has recommended the creation of a proper government agency in the Philippines to take charge of receiving, classifying, processing or screening and presenting to the said Mission in Tokyo all claims against Japan filed by private parties and the various agencies and instrumentalities of the Government for restitution of looted property;

WHEREAS, the setting up of such an agency is necessary in order to coordinate and expedite all such claims;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MANUEL ROXAS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby create and constitute a Committee to receive, classify, process or screen, and present to the Philippines Reparations and Restitution Mission all claims against Japan filed by private persons and corporations and the various agencies and instrumentalities of the Government for the restitution of looted property. The Committee shall be composed of the following:

1. Mr. Arturo M. Gonzalez, of the Office of the President;
2. Mr. A. M. Dalisay, of the Department of Foreign Affairs;
3. Mr. Casiano Anunciacion, of the Department of the Interior;
4. Mr. Julio Calvo, of the Department of Finance;
5. Mr. Eusebio Cachero, of the Department of Justice;
6. Mr. Canuto G. Manuel, of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce;
7. Mr. Eladio M. Santos, of the Department of Public Works and Communications;
8. Mr. Eulogio B. Rodriguez, of the Department of Instruction;
9. Mr. Cesario de Leon, of the Department of Labor;
10. Major Generoso S. Maceda, of the Department of National Defense;
11. Dr. Bienvenido Caro, of the Department of Health and Public Welfare;

The members shall elect their Chairman. They should immediately enter upon the performance of their duties.

The Committee herein created shall receive, classify, process or screen, or otherwise put in due and proper form all claims against Japan filed by the various agencies or instrumentalities of the Government and by private parties and corporations for the restitution of looted property.  After such claims shall have been prepared in accordance with regulations that may be prescribed by the proper authorities of the Supreme Commander for Allied Powers, the Committee shall forward all claims, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, to the Philippines Reparations and Restitution Mission in Tokyo.

In order to expedite the work of the Committee, it is hereby empowered to create subcommittees whenever and wherever necessary. The powers herein granted to the members of the Committee are granted also to the members of subcommittees.  The Committee is hereby authorized to call upon any department, bureau or office, agency or instrumentality of the Government for such information and clerical assistance as it may require in the performance of its work.  For the purpose of securing needed data and information, the Committee shall have access to, and the right to examine the books, documents, papers, or records of any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the Government and the books, documents, papers, or records of such private parties, firms, corporations, business houses or enterprises that may have filed claims for restitution of looted property.

In connection with the performance of their duties, the members of the Committee herein created are hereby granted all the powers of an Investigating Committee under Sections 71 and 580 of the Revised Administrative Code.

Done at the City of Manila, this 28th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the first.


By the President:

(Sgd.) EMILIO ABELLO
Chief of the Executive Office