WHEREAS, under Act No. 4103, as amended, the Board of Pardons and Parole is mandated to look into the physical, mental and moral record of prisoners who shall be eligible to parole and to determine the proper time of release of such prisoners;

WHEREAS, the Board of Pardons and Parole also provides invaluable assistance in the exercise of the President ™s constitutional power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons;

WHEREAS, the Secretary of Justice and the Presidential Committee on Effective Governance have recommended the modification of the emoluments of the members of the Board of Pardons and Parole in view of present economic conditions and consistent with prevailing compensation policies, in order to strengthen the Board of Pardons and Parole as a pillar of the Philippine criminal justice system;

WHEREAS, under Section 69 of the 2002 General Appropriations Act, the President may direct changes in the organization and key positions in any department or agency;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Composition of the Board As Provided By Law. - In accordance with the provisions of Act No. 4103, as amended, the Board of Pardons and Parole shall be composed of the Secretary of Justice, or his representative who shall serve full-time, as Chairman and six (6) members consisting of: The Administrator of the Parole and Probation Administration as ex-officio member, a sociologist, a clergyman, an educator, a person with training and experience in correction work, and a member of the Philippine Bar; Provided, that one of them is a woman. The regular members of the Board of Pardons and Parole shall also serve full time.

SECTION 2. Increase in Compensation of Representative of the Secretary of Justice and Regular Board Members. - The representative of the Secretary of Justice and each regular member of the Board of Pardons and Parole shall receive honoraria equivalent to the hiring rate of an Assistant Secretary (i.e., Salary Grade 29) and a Bureau Director (i.e., Salary Grade 28), respectively, in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

SECTION 3. Review and Revision of Rules and Regulations. - The Board of Pardons and Parole is hereby directed to review the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Pardons and Parole dated December 20, 1989. In accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Code of 1987, the Board of Pardons and Parole shall establish and prescribe, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Justice, new rules and regulations to govern the proceedings of the Board of Pardons and Parole.

SECTION 4. Adjustments in Organization, System and Operations. - Within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Executive Order, the Board of Pardons and Parole shall review its existing organization, system and operations and submit a report with recommendations to the Secretary of Justice, who shall review and endorse the same to the Office of the President for approval. Any changes in organization and staffing shall be subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management.

SECTION 5. Funding. - The financial resources for any changes in organization and staffing shall be taken from available funds of the Department of Justice.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All executive orders, instructions, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila, December 11, 2002.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary