WHEREAS,
the Supreme Court of the Philippines, by virtue of its rule-making
power and conformably to the provisions of Republic Act No. 6397, has
ordained the integration of the Philippine Bar by Resolution of January
9, 1973, for the fundamental purposes of elevating the standards of the
legal profession, improving the administration of justice, and enabling
the Bar to discharge its public responsibility more effectively;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, pursuant to the said Resolution and in accordance with Court
Rule 139-A, effective January 16, 1973, the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines has been organized, its various organs have been
established, and its officers, both national and local, have been duly
elected and have entered into the exercise and discharge of their
respective powers and duties; and
WHEREAS, the Integrated Bar, in the pursuit of its lofty objectives,
obviously merits thed and support of the people and the Government of
the Republic of the Philippines, particularly in the form of direct
material and financial assistance, at least during the initial years of
its corporate existence;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant
to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, and General Order
No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, and Proclamation No. 1104 dated January
17, 1973, do hereby order and decree as part of the law of the land
that;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 1. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines is
hereby constituted into a body corporate, by the name, style and title
of "Integrated Bar of the Philippines," with principal office in the
Greater Manila Area. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 2. The Integrated Bar shall have perpetual
succession and shall have all legal powers appertaining to a juridical
person, particularly the power to sue and be sued; to contract and be
contracted with; to hold real and personal property as may be necessary
for corporate purposes; to mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey and
otherwise dispose of the same; to solicit and receive public and
private donations and contributions; to accept and receive real and
personal property by gift, devise or bequest; to levy and collect
membership dues and special assessments from its members; to adopt a
seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have offices and conduct its
affairs in the Greater Manila Area and elsewhere; to make and adopt
by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of the
Philippines or the Rules of Court, particularly Rule 139-A thereof; and
generally to do all such acts and things as may be necessary or proper
to carry into effect and promote the purposes for which it was
organized.
Section 3. All donations or contributions which may
be made by private entities or persons to the Integrated Bar shall be
exempt from income and gift taxes, and the same shall further be
deductible in full and shall not be included for purposes of computing
the maximum amount deductible under Section 30, paragraph (h), of the
National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.
Section 4. All taxes, charges and fees that may be
paid by the Integrated Bar or any of its Chapters to the Government or
any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof shall be
refundable annually to the former for the period extending up to
December 31, 1978.
Section 5. The Integrated Bar shall receive by way of
donation or lease at a nominal rent from the Government of the Republic
of the Philippines a parcel of land in the Greater Manila Area as a
suitable site for the construction of a building for the Integrated
Bar, with full power to mortgage or otherwise encumber the same.
Section 6. The foregoing provisions shall without
prejudice to the exercise by the Supreme Court of its rule-making power
under the Constitution or to the provisions of Court Rule
139-A. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Section 7. The sum of five hundred thousand pesos is
hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, for the purposes of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines for the fiscal year 1973-1974.
Section 8. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila,
this 4th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-three.
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