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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ Administrative Order No. 221, October 6, 1995 ]

CREATING THE PHILIPPINE POLICY AND LEGAL TASK FORCE ON THE ISSUE OF THE LEGALITY OF THE THREAT OR USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

WHEREAS, the Philippine Constitution enshrines the policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory;

WHEREAS, the Philippines believes that the elimination of weapons of mass destruction will be of immense value towards the achievement of true, meaningful, just and lasting global peace and security; and

WHEREAS, the Philippines has been an active participant in international efforts at addressing the issue of disarmament, particularly concerning weapons of mass destruction;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. Creation of a Policy and Legal Task Force. – The Philippine Policy and Legal Task Force on the Issue of the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons before the International Court of Justice is hereby created, to be known as the ICJ Task Force or ITF.

Section 2. Composition. – The ITF shall be composed of the following:

a.	The Secretary of Foreign Affairs	–	Chairman
b.	The Secretary of Justice	–	Co-Chairman
c.	Representative from the University of the Philippines Law Center		Member
d.	Representative from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines		Member
e.	Representative from the Philippine Society of International Law		Member

Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. – The ITF shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

a. To take primary responsibility in connection with Philippine participation in the hearings before the International Court of Justice on the request for advisory opinion on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons;

b. To identify and formulate Philippine interests on the issue;

c. To study, research, prepare and draft all briefs and pleadings based on the appropriate norms of international law;

d. To assist in preparing for the presentation of oral arguments before the International Court of Justice;

e. To coordinate and consult with appropriate sectors of Philippine society on this issue, particularly non-governmental organizations; and

f. To recommend to the President the Philippine representative who will present arguments before the International Court of Justice.1aшphi1

Section 4. Secretariat. – The ITF Secretariat is hereby established in the Department of Foreign Affairs to be headed by the Undersecretary for Policy.

Section 5. Funding. – The initial funding of Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00) shall be taken from the Presidents Contingent Fund. The Department of Budget and Management is directed to coordinate and assist the ITF in identifying and determining other appropriate sources and amounts of the funds to cover deficiencies in the ITFs requirements. Thereafter, and if necessary, funding requirements of the ITF shall be incorporated in the General Appropriations Act.

Section 6. Report. – This ITF shall submit a report on the progress of its work two weeks from the date of this Administrative Order.

Section 7. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 6th day of October in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Five.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary

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