WHEREAS, among the beneficiaries of the commisary and the
post exchange (PX) privileges granted pursuant to Presidential Decree
No. 83 dated December 20, 1972 and Letter of Instruction No. 31 dated
October 23, 1972, both as amended, are members of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines considering that they are now carrying the greater part
of the burden of suppressing the activities of groups of individuals
actively engaged in a criminal conspiracy to seize political and state
powers in the country and of eradicating widespread lawlessness,
anarchy, disorder and wanton destruction of lives and property;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 765 dated
August 8, 1975, the city and municipal police forces, fire departments
and jails became components of the Integrated National Police, with the
Philippine Constabulary as nucleus with the latter remaining as a Major
Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines;
WHEREAS, by virtue of the establishment of the Integrated
National Police under the Department of National Defense, the aforesaid
city and municipal police forces, fire departments and jails have become
vital partners of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the discharge
of the above-mentioned responsibilities;
WHEREAS, to further insure realization of the objectives of
the police integration, the sum of Five Million (P5,000,000.00) Pesos is
needed to finance the operation and maintenance of a commissary and PX
system for the personnel of the Integrated National Police including
their dependents;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the
Constitution, do hereby order and decree as part of the law of the land
that a commissary and PX system is hereby established for the
"Integrated National Police and all purchases thru such system from
local sources, manufacturers, suppliers and producers of commodities
shall be free of all taxes, duties, and other charges prescribed for
similar commodities under existing revenue, other laws, ordinances and
regulations. For this purpose FIVE MILLION (P5,000,000.00) PESOS of
the retained earnings of the Veterans Claims Settlement Fund which is
held in trust by the Philippine Veterans Bank is set aside to finance
the organization, operation and maintenance of said commissary and PX
system for the benefit of said personnel and their dependents.
The Chief of Constabulary/Director General, Integrated National
Police, with the approval of the Secretary of National Defense is
authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Decree.
Done in the City of Manila, this 15th day of January, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-six.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
JACOBO C. CLAVE
Presidential Executive Assistant