WHEREAS, under Section 4, Article V of the New Constitution,
it is the obligation of every qualified citizen to register and cast
his vote;
WHEREAS, in pursuance of said constitutional provision
Presidential Decree Nos. 210 and 229 were issued imposing penalties for
failure to register and/or cast a vote;
WHEREAS, this is the first time in the history of our
political development that penalties are imposed for failure to register
and/or cast a vote; and
WHEREAS, at this time it is the concern of the leadership of
the Government to unite the nation and to encourage the citizenry to
pursue constructive activities without distraction;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested 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, do hereby declare and decree a
general amnesty for all persons who, as first offenders, failed to
register and/or vote as required.
Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of January, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary