WHEREAS, the Convention provides, among others, that prisoners of war shall at all times be humanely treated and may be interned only in premises affording every guarantee of hygiene and healthfulness; that complete latitude in the exercise Of their religious duties, including attendance at the services of their faith, shall be guaranteed to prisoners of war; that. their utilization for labor purposes although authorized shall be limited to those who are physically fit, taking into account their age, sex, rank, and physical aptitude, and with due consideration to their physical and mental health; and, that each of the parties to the Convention shall be required to institute an official Information Bureau for prisoners of war who are in its power in order that a belligerent may be apprised of the whereabouts of its missing soldiers;

WHEREAS, the present Convention replaces the Convention of July 27, 1929, and in the relations between the Powers which, are bound by the Hague Convention relative to the Laws and Customs of War on Land, whether that of July 29, 1899, or that of October 16, 1907, and which are parties to the present Convention, this last Convention shall be complementary to Chapter II of the Regulations annexed to the above-mentioned Conventions of the Hague;

WHEREAS, the Senate of the Congress of the Philippines, by its Resolution No. 89 adopted on May 19, 1952, concurred in the ratification of the aforesaid Convention in accordance with the Constitution of the Philippines;

WHEREAS, the instrument of ratification of the Republic of the Philippines was signed by the President on August 20, 1952, and deposited; on October 6, 1952 with the Swiss Government; and,

WHEREAS, the said Convention entered into force for the Philippines six months after the said deposit of its instrument of ratification, in accordance with Article 138 thereof;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it known that I, Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, do hereby proclaim and make public the said Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949, a copy of which is hereto attached, to the end that the same and every article and clause thereof may be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the Republic of the Philippines and the citizens thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the seal of the Republic of the Philippines.

Done in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 16th day of February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty-six, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the tenth.

RAMON MAGSAYSAY
President of the Philippines

By the President:

FORTUNATO DE LEON
Acting Executive Secretary