Preamble
WHEREAS, in order to expedite the effective solution of the peace and order problems throughout the country and thereby accelerate national socio-economic development, it is necessary to adopt the concept of making Provincial Governors, City/Municipal Mayors, other civil officials and concerned citizens participate more actively in the maintenance of peace and order within their respective jurisdictions, what the support of the Department of National Defense, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and all other national agencies concerned; WHEREAS, such concept is based on the right of citizens, singly or collectively, to self-defense and on their constitutional duty pursuant to Section 1, Article V of the Constitution; WHEREAS, the aforestated concept calls for the organization of citizen volunteers and resources in a threatened locality into self-defense units capable of providing security to the community, helping to protect the lives and properties of the people against lawless elements and assisting in the maintenance of peace and order, in coordination with the law-enforcement agencies and the military forces operating therein; 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 laws of the land, the following: