WHEREAS, the existing multifarious threats to peace and order consisting of criminality, insurgency and subversion require the dedicated application of the united and integrated efforts of all officials and concerned citizens;

WHEREAS, it is the duty and responsibility of local government officials, the law enforcement, agencies, the prosecution services, the courts, the correctional institutions and the concerned citizenry to assist the Chief Executive in the proper enforcement of the laws of the land and the administration of justice;

WHEREAS, those agencies most concerned with the criminal justice system are not yet fully coordinated in their relationships with each other in the prevention and suppression of criminality and the maintenance of public order and safety in the country;

WHEREAS, there is a need for the present Police Advisory Councils as created pursuant to Letter of Instructions No. 337, dated November 17, 1975 to be expanded and more effectively integrated into the criminal justice system so as to improve maintenance of peace and order through joint efforts and undertakings;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the laws of the land, do order and direct the following:

1. The Minister of National Defense; Minister of Justice; Minister of Local Governments; Chairman, National Police Commission; Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Chief of Constabulary/Director General, Integrated National Police; Director of the National Bureau of Investigation; Director of Prisons and three (3) representatives, who shall be appointed by the Chairman hereof, from the private sector, representing the academic, civic and religious organizations shall form a body to be known as the œPeace and Order Council .

2. The œPeace and Order Council  shall replace the existing Police Advisory created pursuant to Letter of Instructions No. 337, dated November 17, 1975 and shall serve as the focal point for the effective coordination of the activities and functions of the five pillars of the Criminal Justice System. If shall have the following functions:

a. To prepare and submit to the Office of the President, for approval and integration with the overall national development plans, a national plan which shall outline peace and order campaigns, policies, thrusts and strategies to include the effective functioning of the Criminal Justice System.

b. To coordinate and monitor peace and order plans, projects, and all related activities.

c. To develop, design and establish an information system which shall provide data needed by agencies concerned with, the administration of justice.

d. To organize and manage a unit to undertake criminological research and establish effective linkages with local and foreign criminal intelligence agencies.

3. The Minister of National Defense shall be the chairman of the œPeace and Order Council . He shall supervise the Organization and functions of the Regional, Provincial, City and Municipal œPeace and Order Council  which shall be organized as prescribed hereunder.

a. Regional œPeace and Order Council  The Regional œPeace and Order Council  shall consist of the present membership of the Regional Police Advisory Council with the addition of the senior AFP Commander in the Region; the Regional Commander/Director of the PC/INP; the Regional Director of NAPOLCOM; the Regional Director of NBI; the Regional State Prosecutor; the regional representative of the correctional institutions; and the Regional Probation Administrator to be added to its membership. The members thereof shall elect their Chairman.

b. Provincial œPeace and Order Council  The Provincial œPeace and Order Council  shall consist of the present membership of the Provincial Police Advisory Council with the addition of the senior AFP Commander in the province; the Provincial Commander/Police Superintendent; the NAPOLCOM Hearing Officer, the Provincial Fiscal, the Probation Officer, and the Provincial Warden. The Provincial Governor shall be its Chairman.

c. City/Municipal œPeace and Order Council  The City/Municipal œPeace and Order Council  shall consist of the present membership of the City/Municipal Police Advisory Council with the addition of the INP Station Commander, the City Fiscal/the representative of the Provincial Fiscal, the Probation Officer and the Jail Warden to be added to its membership. The City/Municipal Mayor shall be its Chairman.

4. The Chairman of each of the above œPeace and Order Councils  shall invite a senior representative of the Courts to be a member of the œPeace and Order Council .

5. The Regional, Provincial and City/Municipal œPeace and Order Councils  shall, in addition to their duties provided for in the Joint Memorandum Circular of the Department (now Ministry) of National Defense and the Department (now Ministry) of Local Government and Community Development dated September 15, 1975, have the following duties and functions:

a. Receive complaints relating to peace and order against any member of the law enforcement agencies, the prosecution, correctional institutions and other governmental agencies, endorse the same to the appropriate agency concerned and demand/compel such agency to submit reports(s) of action taken thereon;

b. Formulate plans and recommend such other measures which will improve or enhance peace and order and public safety;

c. Make periodic assessments of the prevailing peace and order and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system within its area of responsibility and submit a report thereon with recommendation to the Chairman.

6. The Chairman of the National œPeace and Order Council  shall issue appropriate implementing rules and regulations to carry out this order.

7. The reorganization of the present Police Advisory Councils should be affected immediately and completed within thirty (30) days hereafter.

Done in the City of Manila, this 10th day of SEPTEMBER 1981.


By the President:

(SGD.) JUAN C. TUVERA
Presidential Executive Assistant