Guidelines Covering the Jurisdiction of Military Tribunals and Civil Courts

June 6, 1973

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 206

PRESCRIBING GUIDELINES COVERING THE JURISDICTION OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNALS AND CIVIL COURTS, GOVERNING CRIMINAL CASES INVOLVING APPLICATION FOR AMNESTY

WHEREAS, in order to accelerate the restoration of peace and order which is one of the objectives of Proclamations No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973, Presidential Decrees No. 95, dated January 11, 1973, and No. 124, dated February 2, 1973, proclaimed amnesty for certain classes of offenders; acd

WHEREAS, it has always been the avowed policy of the Government to unify our people and secure them from further violence, injuries and loss of lives;

WHEREAS, it is provided in the said Decrees that cases now pending before fiscals, civil courts and military tribunals against the said offenders, shall be dismissed motu proprio by the respective fiscals, civil courts and military tribunals, either upon petition of the prosecution or the accused after the grant of amnesty;

WHEREAS, in order to render more effective the aforesaid Decrees, it is necessary that all proceedings in connection with criminal cases pending before fiscals, civil courts and military tribunals against those who have applied for amnesty in accordance with said Presidential Decrees No. 95 and No. 124, be suspended;

WHEREAS, reports from the military authorities indicate that a great number of persons have applied for amnesty under said Decrees after the deadline set therein, and there are still others who would want to surrender and return to the folds of the law;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973, and in my capacity as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, do hereby order and decree that all proceedings before military tribunals and/or civil courts in connection with all criminal cases pending before them against all persons who have applied for amnesty in accordance with Presidential Decrees No. 95 and No. 124, dated January 11, 1973 and February 2, 1973, respectively, including those persons who are excepted thereunder but who, nevertheless, have applied for amnesty, shall be held in abeyance pending final action by the President on their application for amnesty. casia

I do further order and decree that the Secretary of National Defense or his duly authorized representative may order the temporary release of the said accused should they be under detention, as the Secretary of National Defense or his duly authorized representative may deem advisable, taking into consideration the national security;

I do finally order and decree that the deadline for the filling of applications for amnesty under Presidential Decrees No. 95, dated January 11, 1973, and No. 124, dated February 2, 1973, both as amended by Presidential Decree No. 158, dated March 17, 1973, is extended up to July 15, 1973, Provided, That offenses covered by the aforesaid Decrees which may have been committed after this promulgation may be the subject of application for such amnesty. cd i

DONE in the City of Manila, this 6th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy-Three.