Fact-Finding Investigation on Extrajudicial Killings

March 23, 2007

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 173

DIRECTING THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION CREATED UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 157 TO CONDUCT FURTHER FACT-FINDING INVESTIGATION TO OBTAIN A FULLER PICTURE OF THE EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS REFERRED TO IN ITS PRELIMINARY REPORT

WHEREAS, an independent commission was created by the President under Administrative Order No. 157 dated 21 August 2006 for the purpose of investigating the spate of media and activist killings and thereafter recommend policies that will eradicate the root causes of the extrajudicial killings and break the cycle of violence;

WHEREAS, pursuant to its mandate, the independent commission released and submitted to the President a preliminary report dated 22 January 2007 identifying certain groups or interests as possibly responsible for the extrajudicial killings of media personnel and activists;

WHEREAS, the independent commission needs to conduct further investigation for it to craft the appropriate policy recommendations in consonance with its mandate under Administrative Order No. 157 dated 21 August 2006;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA M. ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby direct the Independent Commission created under Administrative Order No. 157 dated 21 August 2006 to conduct further fact-finding inquiry or investigation into the root causes of the extrajudicial killings and submit a final report detailing its policy recommendations that will break the cycle of violence and prevent its recurrence.

This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately. AcEIHC

DONE in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of March, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 103, No. 21, p. 3003, May 21, 2007.