Preamble
PHILIPPINES AND DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS WHEREAS, the United Nations Charter in its Preamble expresses a reaffirmation of faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small; WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 39/104 of 14 December 1984 encourages all member states to take appropriate steps for the establishment or, where they already exist, the strengthening of national institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights; WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 39/145 recognizes that the human being is the main subject of development and that everyone has the right to participate, as well as to benefit from the development process; WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 39/145 further emphasizes the profound conviction that all human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible and interdependent and that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the implementation, promotion and protection of both civil and political and economic, social and cultural rights; WHEREAS, the Philippines is a signatory to almost all UN Conventions on human rights and continues to comply with its commitments under such international agreements; WHEREAS, the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines unequivocably promote social justice and the promotion of human rights irrespective of race, color, creed and origin; WHEREAS, the policies of the Government as reflected in its Four-Year Development Plans fully recognize social concerns in the national goals for sustainable economic growth, equitable distribution of the fruits of development, and total human development; WHEREAS, the current efforts of the Government to promote human rights such as the activities of the Special Investigation Committee need to be fully coordinated with and integrated into the overall strategies and policies to implement the national goals; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and the authority vested in me by Presidential Decree No. 1416, as amended, hereby order and ordain: