WHEREAS, there is a need to form a group composed of Muslim and Christian leaders to look into the peace and order problem in Zamboanga City;

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide the people of Zamboanga City a more united religious leadership for a peaceful community and for attainment of economic prosperity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. The Zamboanga City Council of Elders ("Council") is hereby organized with the following membership:

a. Archbishop Francisco Cruces, DD
b. Ustads Abdulgani Yusop
c. Hadji Abdurahman Nuno
d. Mrs. Josephine Bautista
e. Atty. Arsenio Gonzales, Jr.
f. Hadji Sali Wali

The Council shall be attached to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao.

Section 2. The Council shall be headed by a Chairman and Co-Chairman elected by the members of the Council from among themselves. The members of the Council shall serve without compensation.

Section 3. The Council shall be an advisory body and shall have the following functions:

a. To give advise and recommendations to the Zamboanga City Peace and Order Council, the National Unification Commission, and the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, on matters pertaining to the peace and order situation in Zamboanga City.

b. To act as peace advocates and unifying force between the Muslim and Christian inhabitants of Zamboanga City, as well as assist in the mutual appreciation of faiths and religious doctrines by the Muslims and Christians.

c. To exercise such other functions incidental to the above.

Section 4. The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao shall provide the Council with technical and administrative support.

Section 5. The Council shall be provided with a budget to be approved by the President upon the recommendation of the Presidential Management Staff and the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao.

Section 6. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Three.


By the President:
(Sgd.) ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel