WHEREAS,
Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, declaring a state of
martial law throughout the land was issued because of widespread
lawlessness and anarchy, chaos and disorder, wanton destruction of
lives and property prevailing throughout the country, perpetrated,
among others, by diehard leaders and members of activist groups,
subversive elements and Communist-front organizations; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, since the proclamation of martial law and in a series of
efforts to unify the country, I have issued several decree among them
(1) Presidential Decree No. 95 extending amnesty in favor of persons
who, prior to the effectivity of the said decree, have committed any
act penalized by existing laws in some provinces in Mindanao, Sulu and
Palawan in the furtherance of their political and religious beliefs;
(2) Presidential Decree No. 124 decreeing amnesty in favor of all
persons who may have violated the provisions of Section 4 of Republic
Act No. 1700, and affiliates/members who may have committed any other
offenses penalized under any law in furtherance of their political
beliefs; (3) Presidential Decree No. 497 extending amnesty in favor of
Muslims who have committed acts penalized under existing laws in the
furtherance of their resistance to the duly constituted authorities of
the Republic of the Philippines; and finally (4) Presidential Decree
No. 571 in favor of leaders, officers and members of the Partido
Komunista Ng Pilipinas (PKP), Hukbong Magpapalaya Ng Bayan (HMB),
Malayang Samahan Ng Magsasaka (MASAKA), Malayang Pagkakaisa ng
Kabataang Pilipino (MPKP) and Samahang Pambansa Ng Kababaihan Sa
Pilipinas (SPKP), including those who may have committed any act
penalized by existing laws, which has been committed to promote their
political beliefs or to enhance acceptance of their ideas, views and
opinions about the social order, economic system or form of government
in the Philippines; chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, these decrees have been availed of by a good number of their
intended beneficiaries in various parts of the country and have thusly
paved the way for their active collaboration and cooperation in our
efforts to promote the ideals and principles of the New Society;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, to better realize the objectives of Proclamation No. 1081 and
the general orders, decrees and instructions issued pursuant thereto,
to give added impetus to effectively unite all elements and sectors of
our society, and establish a nation in polity worthy of the highest
ideals of the Filipino people, it is necessary that political
expatriates and persons who upon the proclamation of Martial Law on
September 21, 1972 were abroad and who for political reasons and fear
of prosecution therefor have chosen or elected to stay/remain abroad,
should be encouraged to return to their homeland and thereby become our
co-workers in the New Society;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, it is the interest of the New Society that the talents and
abilities of the intended beneficiaries hereof be harnessed in our
common effort to establish peace and order and institute political,
social, agrarian and other reforms essential to our national survival
and progress;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, some of aforesaid political dissenters/expatriates who are now
temporarily residing abroad have indicated their desire to return to
their homeland, but entertain fear or apprehension that they will be
prosecuted for offenses and/or utterness or actuations critical of
and/or derogatory to the proclamation of martial law and the
establishment of the New Society;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of
the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby declare and
decree an amnesty in favor of all political expatriates/dissenters who
have made utterances or otherwise comported themselves in a manner
derogatory to the duly constituted authorities of the Republic of the
Philippines or the proclamation of Martial Law and/or the establishment
of the New Society; Provided, That they pledge loyalty and allegiance
to the Republic of the Philippines; Provided, also, That this amnesty
shall not extend to offenses of Murder and against chastity; And
Provided, finally, That they shall avail of this amnesty not later than
30th of April 1975. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
The Secretary of National Defense and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
shall issue orders and shall promulgate such joint rules and
regulations to carry out effectively the purposes of this
Decree. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Done in the City of Manila,
this 2nd day of November, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-four.
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