Proclamation No. 1963, issued on December 12, 2009, by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, officially terminates the state of martial law in the province of Maguindanao and restores the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. This follows earlier proclamations aimed at addressing lawless violence in the region, which had led to the suspension of civil liberties. The government reported significant progress in restoring order, with over 600 individuals surrendering or being arrested, and local judicial operations resuming normalcy. Although martial law is revoked, the state of emergency declared in Proclamation No. 1946 remains in effect.
December 12, 2009
PROCLAMATION NO. 1963
PROCLAIMING THE TERMINATION OF THE STATE OF MARTIAL LAW AND THE RESTORATION OF THE PRIVILEGE OF THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS IN THE PROVINCE OF MAGUINDANAO
WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 1946 was issued on 24 November 2009 declaring a state of emergency in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and the City of Cotabato for the purpose of preventing and suppressing lawless violence in the aforesaid areas; SDHAEC
WHEREAS, by virtue of the powers granted under Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, the President of the Philippines promulgated Proclamation No. 1959 on December 4, 2009, proclaiming a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of Habeas Corpus in the province of Maguindanao, except for certain areas;
WHEREAS, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have reported that over six hundred (600) persons who allegedly rose publicly and took up arms against the Government have surrendered or have been arrested or detained;
WHEREAS, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have reported that the areas where heavily armed groups in the province of Maguindanao established positions to resist government troops have been cleared;
WHEREAS, the court and prosecutors' offices of Cotobato City have resumed normal working hours, paving the way for the criminal justice in Maguindanao to be restored to normalcy;
WHEREAS, the Vice-Governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has assumed as Acting Governor, paving the way for the restoration of the functioning of government mechanisms in the province of Maguindanao;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and by law, do hereby revoke Proclamation No. 1959 and proclaim the termination of the state of martial law and the restoration of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province of Maguindanao; provided that Proclamation No. 1946 shall continue to be in force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 12th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Nine. IAcTaC