Preamble
WHEREAS, under existing law, municipal judges and other lawyers in the government service are prohibited from practicing law; WHEREAS, there are some places where there are no available legal practitioners, as a result of which the trial of cases in court is delayed to the prejudice particularly of detention prisoners; WHEREAS, for the protection of the rights of the accused who cannot afford to hire lawyers from other places and to prevent miscarriage of justice, it is necessary that they be provided with counsel; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree as follows: