MALACAÑANG
Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

Proclamation No. 210

SUSPENDING THE PRIVILEGE OF THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS IN CERTAIN CASES

WHEREAS, lawless elements of the country have committed overt acts of sedition, insurrection and rebellion for the purpose of overthrowing the duly constituted authorities and, in pursuance thereof, have created a state of lawlessness and disorder affecting public safety and the security of the state;

WHEREAS, these acts of sedition, insurrection and rebellion consisting of armed raids, sorties and ambushes and the wanton acts of murder, rape, spoilage, looting, arson, planned destruction of public and private buildings, and attacks against police and constabulary detachments, as well as against civilian lives and properties, as reported by the Commanding General of the Armed Forces, have seriously endangered and still continue to endanger the public safety;

WHEREAS, these acts of sedition, insurrection and rebellion have been perpetrated by various groups of persons well organized for concerted action and well armed with machine guns, rifles, pistols and other automatic weapons, by reason whereof there is actual danger of rebellion which may extend throughout the country;

WHEREAS, one hundred leading members of these lawless elements have been apprehended and are presently under detention, and strong and convincing evidence has been found in their possession to show that they are engaged in rebellious, seditious and otherwise subversive acts as above set forth; and

WHEREAS, public safety requires that immediate and effective action be taken to insure the peace and security of the population and to maintain the authority of the Government;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elpidio Quirino, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Article VII, section 10, paragraph (2) of the Constitution, do hereby suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus for the persons presently detained, as well as all others who may be hereafter similarly detained for the crimes of sedition, insurrection or rebellion, and all other crimes and offenses committed by them in furtherance or on the occasion thereof, or incident thereto, or in connection therewith.

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 22nd day of October in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the fifth.

ELPIDIO QUIRINO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

TEODORO EVANGELISTA
Executive Secretary


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