WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), through its Resolution No. 10666 (s. 2020), resolved to request for the concurrence of the President in the deputation of law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), in connection with the 11 May 2020 plebiscite to ratify Republic Act (RA) No. 11259;

WHEREAS, RA No. 11259 provides for the division of the Province of Palawan into three (3) distinct and independent provinces to be known as Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2(4), Article IX-C of the Constitution, the COMELEC is empowered to deputize, with the concurrence of the President, law* enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the AFP, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, hereby concur with COMELEC Resolution No. 10666, deputizing the AFP and law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, in connection with the 11 May 2020 plebiscite.

The foregoing law enforcement agencies and other concerned agencies are hereby directed to coordinate and cooperate with the COMELEC in the performance of their duties and functions.

This Memorandum Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 6th day of April , in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty.

By the President:

(SGD.) RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

(SGD.) SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA
Executive Secretary