GRANTING GENERAL AMNESTY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS, OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER PERSONS FOR VIOLATION OF ELECTION LAWS AND OTHER RELATED STATUTES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTIONS OF 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 AND THE ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 433
• Sections: 6

Preamble

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 364, dated January 3, 1974,

declared and decreed "A General Amnesty For All Persons Who, As First

Offenders, Failed To Register and/or Vote As Required" in connection

with the national referendum of July 27-28, 1973;

WHEREAS, in the aforecited Decree the leadership of

Government expressed determination to pursue a policy to unify the

nation and to encourage the citizenry to direct their attention and

efforts to constructive activities without distraction;

WHEREAS, this policy should be broadened in its application

so that the benefits to be derived therefrom may be extended to more

members of the society;

WHEREAS, it is of record that many public schoolteachers,

other officials and employees of the Government including members of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines are facing charges before various

courts, tribunals, and/or administrative bodies for violation of

election laws and other related statutes in connection with the

elections of 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and the election of Delegates to the

Constitutional Convention; and that these cases are still pending

preliminary investigation or trial on the merits, despite the long

period that has lapsed since the filing thereof;

WHEREAS, it is of public knowledge that the public

schoolteachers and other faithful government officials and employees

committed infractions or offenses in the performance of their election

duties due to forces beyond their will or power to resist;

WHEREAS, the pendency of these cases has caused great

anxiety, worry and tension on the part of those involved and the members

of their families, affecting not only their efficiency as public

officials but also their peace of mind as citizens of the nation:

WHEREAS, with respect to other persons, the pendency of such

cases is not conducive to national unity as it alienates them from the

New Society; and

WHEREAS, as a continuing effort to the leadership of

Government to heal the wounds inflicted in the past and to provide a

fresh start for all concerned to help build the New Society, it is

proper and advisable to relieve the persons involved of further stress

or strain;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,

do hereby decree and order:

Section 1

SECTION 1. General Amnesty is hereby granted to all public

schoolteachers, other government officials and employees, members of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines facing charges for violation of

election laws or other related statutes in connection with the elections

of 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971 and the election of Delegates to the

Constitutional Convention subject to the conditions provided in the

succeeding section.

Section 2

SEC. 2. The following persons shall not he entitled to the

amnesty herein granted:

Those whose violations were committed in band; and

Those whose violations involved violence or terrorism

resulting in physical injury to or death of any person.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All such pending cases shall be remanded to the

Commission on Elections for die purpose of determining after hearing, if

necessary, whether the defendants therein are entitled to amnesty under

the conditions herein provided.

For purposes of this Section the

courts shall transmit to the Commission on Elections any and all

records of the cases herein referred to.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The

Commission on Elections shall submit a report to the President on the

action taken under this Decree.

Section 5

SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of April, 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