Section 15
SEC. 15. Two new articles, designated as article fifty-A and article fifty-B, are hereby inserted between articles "fifty and fifty-one of the same Act, as amended, which shall read as follows: "ART. 50-A. Rehearing.-When the President or any renewing or confirming authority disapproves or vacates a sentence the execution of which has not heretofore been duly ordered, he may authorize or direct a rehearing. Such rehearing shall take place before a court composed of officers, or officers and enlisted men, not members of the which first heard the case. Upon such rehearing the accused shall not be tried for any offense of which he was not found guilty by the first court, and no sentence in excess of or more severe than the original sentence shall be imposed unless the sentence be based upon a finding of guilty of an offense not considered upon the merits in the original proceedings: Provided, That such rehearing shall be had in all cases where a finding and sentence have been vacated by reason of the action of the board of review approved by the Judge Advocate General holding the record of trial legally insufficient to support the findings or sentence or errors of law have been committed injuriously affecting the substantial rights of the accused unless in accord with such action, and the recommendations of the Judge Advocate General thereon, the findings or sentence are approved in part only, or the record is returned for revision, or unless the case is dismissed by order of the reviewing or confirming authority. After any such rehearing had on the order of the President, the record of trial shall, alter examination by the board of review, be transmitted by the Judge Advocate General, with the Board's opinion and his recommendations to the Chief of Staff for the action of the President. "ART. 50-B. Petition for new trial.-Under such regulations as the President may prescribe, the Chief of Staff or the Chief of Constabulary is authorized upon application of an accused person, and upon good cause shown, in his discretion, to grant a new trial, or to vacate a sentence, restore rights, privileges, and property affected by such sentence, and substitute for a dismissal, dishonorable discharge, or bad-conduct discharge previously executed a form of discharge authorized for administrative issuance, in any court-martial case in which application is made within one year after final disposition of the case upon initial appellate review: Provided, That with regard to cases involving offenses committed during World War II, the application for new trial may be made within one year after termination of the war, or after its final disposition upon initial appellate review as herein provided, whichever is the later: Provided, That only one such application for a new trial may be entertained with regard to any one case: And provided, further, That all action by the Chief of Staff or the Chief of Constabulary pursuant to this article, and all proceedings, findings, and sentences on new trials under this article, as approved, reviewed or confirmed under articles forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight and fifty and all dismissals and discharges carried into execution pursuant to sentences adjudged on new trials and approved, reviewed, or confirmed, shall be final and conclusive; and orders publishing the action of the Chief of Staff or the Chief of Constabulary or the proceedings on new trial, and all action taken pursuant to such proceedings, shall be binding upon all departments, courts, agencies, and officers of the Government of the Philippines."