Creation of Commission To Conduct Fact-Finding Investigation of Escape of Certain Detainees

July 18, 2003

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 77

CREATING A COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A FACT-FINDING INVESTIGATION OF THE ESCAPE OF FATHUR ROHMAN AL-GHOZI, ABDULMUKIM ONG EDRIS, AND OMAR OPIK LASAL AND RECOMMEND COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE

I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Creation.— There is hereby created a Commission which shall investigate all the facts and circumstances of the escape from detention of Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, Abdulmukim Ong Edris and Omar Opik Lasal, and recommend comprehensive measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

SECTION 2. Composition.— The Commission shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) members, who shall be appointed by the President.

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions. — The Commission shall have all the powers of an investigative body under Section 37, Chapter 9, Book I of the Administrative Code of 1987, including the power to summon witnesses, administer oath, take testimony or evidence relevant to the investigation and to issue compulsory processes to produce documents, books, records and such other matters, in the performance of its functions.

SECTION 4. Tenure and Turn Over of Records.— The Commission is hereby given thirty (30) days from its constitution, to conclude its fact-finding investigation and submit to the Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, its findings and recommendations together with the complete records of its investigation.

SECTION 5. Secretariat.— The Department of Justice shall establish a secretariat for the technical and staff support of the Commission. For this purpose, the Secretary of Justice is hereby authorized to detail any personnel from the Department of Justice to assist the Commission.

SECTION 6. Role of Other Government Agencies.— The departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of government are hereby directed to extend such assistance and cooperation as the Commission may require in the discharge of its functions.

SECTION 7. Funding.— Funding for the operation of the Commission shall be sourced from the Office of the President.

SECTION 8. Effectivity.— This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

City of Manila, July 18, 2003.