WHEREAS, barangays (citizens assemblies) have been created
throughout the land to broaden the base of citizen participation in the
democratic process and to afford ample opportunities for the citizenry to
express their views on vital national issues;
WHEREAS, the responsibility for the successful operation of
the various barangays (citizens assemblies) has been reposed on the barrio
captains and council members in municipal districts, municipalities or chartered
cities where there are barrios or on the barangay chairman and barangay leaders
where there are no barrios existing;
WHEREAS, the barangay chairman and the barangay leaders as
responsible officials of the barangay (citizens assembly) have been vested with
same authority and/or responsibility as that of the barrio captain and the
council members, respectively; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to safeguard their persons against
harm or injury as not to hamper their movement while in the prosecution of the
objectives of the barangays (citizens assemblies);
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 all 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, as amended, and in order to effect the desired changes and
reforms in the social, economic and political structure in our society, do
hereby order and decree the amendment of Act No. 3815, as amended, as
follows: