MALACANAN PALACE
MANILA
GENERAL ORDER NO. 5
DIRECTING THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES IN THE FACE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY, TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC PEACE, ORDER AND SAFETY AND TO PREVENT AND SUPPRESS LAWLESS VIOLENCE
WHEREAS, over these past months, elements in the political opposition have conspired with authoritarian of the extreme Left, represented by the NDF-CPP-NPA and the extreme Right, represented by military=y adventurists—the historical enemies of the democratic Philippine State—and who are now in a tactical alliance and engaged in a concerted and systematic conspiracy, over a broad front to bring down the duly-constituted Government, elected in May 2004;
WHEREAS, these conspirators have repeatedly tried to bring down our republican government;
WHEREAS, the claims of these elements have been recklessly magnified by certain segments of the national media;
WHEREAS, this series of actions is hurting the Philippine State by obstructing governance, including hindering the growth of the economy and sabotaging the people’s confidence in government and their faith in the future of this country;
WHEREAS, these actions are adversely affecting the economy;
WHEREAS, these activities give totalitarian forces of the both extreme Left and extreme Right the opening to intensify their avowed aims to bring down the democratic Philippine State;
WHEREAS, Article 2, Section 4 of our Constitution makes the defense and preservation of the democratic institutions and the State the primary duty of Government;
WHEREAS, the activities above described, their consequences, ramifications and collateral effects constitute a clear and present danger to the safety and integrity of the Philippine State and of the Filipino people’
WHEREAS, Proclamation 1017 dated February 24, 2006 has been issued declaring a State of National Emergency;
NOW, THEREFORE, I GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, by virtue of the powers vested in me under the Constitution as President of the Republic of the Philippines, and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1017 dated February 24, 2006, do hereby call upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism lawless violence in the country;
I hereby direct the Chief of Staff of the AFP and the Chief of the PNP, as well as the officers and men of the AFP and PNP, to immediately carry out the necessary and appropriate actions and measures to suppress and prevent acts of terrorism and lawless violence.
City of Manila, February 24, 2006.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
By the President:
EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary
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About FLAG
The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) is a nation-wide human rights lawyers organization committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and civil liberties. It was founded in 1974 by Jose W. Diokno, Lorenzo Tanada Sr. and Joker Arroyo.
It espouses a non-traditional view of law and society, the role of lawyers and the use of law as an instrument of societal transformation called Developmental Legal Advocacy (DLA). Among its many advocacies are those against political repression, military and police abuses, death penalty.
FLAG has taken the lead in prosecuting erring military and policemen; these efforts have led to landmark decisions in habeas corpus as well as command responsibility. It has also questioned, in appropriate cases, in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the death penalty, and the Visiting Forces Agreement, among many others.
Through the use of primers, FAQs, statements and position papers, FLAG has also made full use of the educative function and role of lawyers, consistent with its belief that the legal process is but part of a larger process that should involve those who are directly affected by a problem.
It espouses a non-traditional view of law and society, the role of lawyers and the use of law as an instrument of societal transformation called Developmental Legal Advocacy (DLA). Among its many advocacies are those against political repression, military and police abuses, death penalty.
FLAG has taken the lead in prosecuting erring military and policemen; these efforts have led to landmark decisions in habeas corpus as well as command responsibility. It has also questioned, in appropriate cases, in the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the death penalty, and the Visiting Forces Agreement, among many others.
Through the use of primers, FAQs, statements and position papers, FLAG has also made full use of the educative function and role of lawyers, consistent with its belief that the legal process is but part of a larger process that should involve those who are directly affected by a problem.