For the purpose of defining more clearly the conditions under which existing officials of the government may serve or participate in diplomatic missions abroad, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President and Prime Minister of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order as follows:

1. In addition to the regular functions, duties and responsibilities vested upon his office or position, any official of the government, whether elected or appointed, may be designated by the President/Prime Minister to perform special diplomatic assignments in other countries. Such special assignments shall be distinguished from and shall not constitute offices or positions as defined under existing laws.

2. Special diplomatic assignments shall be defined and categorized as follows:

a. special missions with special objectives b. special acts c. special posts for limited for defined period

3. All the above-mentioned special diplomatic assignment, including the corresponding titles and ranks, may be carried concurrently with and in addition to existing responsibilities and duties of the designee. Said designation, however, shall expire upon completion of the tasks and objectives for which the mission or the act was directed, or upon termination of the period fixed therein.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila this 3rd day of March, nineteen hundred and eighty-one.


By the President:

(SGD.) JUAN C. TUVERA
Presidential Executive Assistant