Preamble
WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 39, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 566, there is unnecessary duplication and waste of effort in the appellate review process in cases tried by military commissions and provost courts created pursuant to General Order No. 8, dated September 27, 1972, and Presidential Decree No. 39; WHEREAS, a military justice system interpreted by a civilian appellate body will increase stability in the administration of military justice and promote confidence of military personnel and the civilian populace in the overall fairness of the military justice system; WHEREAS, a simplified appellate review procedure for military tribunal cases will be conducive to the speedy administration of military justice; NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the new Constitution of the Philippines and as Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamations Nos. 1081 and 1104, dated September 21, 1972 and January 17, 1973, respectively, and to make more effective, just, speedy, and fair the administration of the military justice system, do hereby order and decree as part of the law of the land the following amendments to the appellate review system in military tribunal cases prescribed in Presidential Decree No. 566, and in general court-martial cases and special court-martial cases involving bad conduct discharge as provided in the pertinent Articles of War for the Armed Forces of the Philippines: