WHEREAS, a primordial objective of Proclamation No. 1081,
dated September 21, 1972, is the early restoration of peace, order and
tranquility throughout the country;
WHEREAS, one of the most insidious means of disrupting such
peace, order and tranquility is the utterance, publication, distribution,
circulation and spread of rumors, false news or information and gossip that
cause divisive effects among the people, discredit of or distrust for the duly
constituted authorities and/or that undermine the stability of the Government
and the objectives of the New Society and, therefore, inimical to the best
interests of the State;
WHEREAS, to attain the aforesaid primordial objective of
Proclamation No. 1081, it is imperative that such acts be curbed and
penalized;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, in my capacity as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines and pursuant to
Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, do hereby order and decree that
any person who shall offer, publish, distribute, circulate and spread rumors,
false news and information and gossip, or cause the publication, distribution,
circulation or spreading of the same, which cause or tend to cause panic,
divisive effects among the people, discredit of or distrust for the duly
constituted authorities, undermine the stability of the Government and the
objectives of the
New Society, endanger the public order, or cause damage to the interest or
credit of the State shall, upon conviction, be punished by prision correctional.
In case the offender is a government official or employee, the accessory penalty
of absolute perpetual disqualification from holding any public office shall be
imposed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 6th day of January, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-three.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary