Amending General Order No. 51 Dated January 17, 1975, by Deleting Certain Portions Thereof

January 17, 1975

GENERAL ORDER NO. 51-A

AMENDING GENERAL ORDER NO. 51, ENTITLED "PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC AND FREE DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATE ON THE REFERENDUM QUESTIONS AND SETTING A PERIOD THEREFOR," DATED JANUARY 17, 1975, BY DELETING CERTAIN PORTIONS THEREOF

WHEREAS, it is my desire to assure the citizenry the free exercise of freedom to peaceably assemble and to discuss and debate the referendum questions without fear of previous restraint or subsequent punishment except in appropriate instances;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby order as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of General Order No. 51, dated January 17, 1975, is hereby amended by deleting the last two paragraphs thereof, so that the said Section 2 shall read as follows:

"SEC. 2. Implementation of Policy. — To implement the policy declared in the preceding section, the following provisions shall be enforced:

1. Any person who is duly registered as a barangay member shall not be questioned, interrogated or investigated before or after the referendum for any speech, remark or statement in any discussion or debate intended to explain the referendum questions or to enlighten the people about the issues involved, or for any view for or against any or all of the questions made in public rallies or debates or in other forms of communication, radio or television, and such remarks, statements or views shall not be admissible as evidence in any investigation or suit against the person or persons making them.

2. The printing of pamphlets, leaflets, posters, handbills and other printed materials designed to explain the referendum questions or to enlighten the people about them, and the dissemination or circulation of these materials shall be allowed and in no way restricted, subject to pertinent and applicable provisions of the Election Code of 1971 and regulations that may be promulgated by the Commission on Elections in accordance with Section 5 of this General Order, and no person who is duly registered as barangay member shall be held to account for views expressed in these printed materials, which shall likewise be inadmissible as evidence in any investigation or suit against the person or persons printing, publishing or circulating them: Provided, however, That any printed material shall not be allowed to be disseminated or circulated if it does not indicate the name and address of the author thereof as well as the name and address of the printer."

SECTION 2. Sections 3 and 6 of the same General Order are hereby deleted. HTcADC

SECTION 3. Effectivity. — This General Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 17th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.