Preamble
WHEREAS, in pursuit of a solution to the conflict in Mindanao the government has succeeded in forging the Tripoli Agreement with the parties concerned; WHEREAS, under the said Tripoli Agreement certain matters including the area of the autonomy and the mechanics thereof shall be subject to further discussions and eventually to the people's approval; WHEREAS, in an exchange of cables, President Marcos and President Ghaddafi have agreed that the inhabitants of the areas of the autonomy shall determine for themselves the administrative system to be adopted in accordance with the Constitution of the Philippines and the formula agrees upon by the two aforementioned leaders; WHEREAS, the matter of the administrative system for the area of the autonomy is indeed vital and should be resolved by the people under the principle of self-determination; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the authority in me vested by the Constitution do hereby decree as follows: