Preamble
WHEREAS, in March 1942, when the fall of Bataan became imminent, a group of Filipino peasants and workers led by Luis M. Taruc banded together in a barrio in Central Luzon to organize a resistance movement, otherwise known as the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (HUKBALAHAP) directed against the Japanese Imperial Army during the occupation of the Philippines; WHEREAS, the active participation of these guerilla fighters must be recognized by the government of the Philippines; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree: