Memorandum Order No. 541

MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 541, October 17, 1975 ]

STRENGTHENING THE SYSTEM FOR THE RECEPTION AND PROCESSING OF REBEL RETURNEES IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES

The system for the reception and processing of rebel returnees in Southern Philippines, established under Memorandum Order No. 516, s-1975, is hereby strengthened by creating a National Coordinating Committee to be headed by a National Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator, as well as Regional Coordinating Committees in the field.

The National Coordinating Committee shall be composed of the following:

1. Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Defense National Coordinator

2. AdministratorSouthern Philippines Development Administration Deputy Coordinator

3. Representative
Department of Agrarian Reform Member

4. Representative
Department of Education and Culture Member

5. Chairman
Task Force on Labor Member

6. Representative
Department of Social Welfare Member

7. Representative
Development Bank of the Philippines Member

8. Representative
Office of the President Member

In the field, the structure of Regional Coordinating Committees shall be as follows:

1. The Commanders of the different military commands identified in Memorandum Order No. 516-i.e., SOWESCOM for Region IX, CEMCOM for the four (4) Cotabato provinces and LANCAF for the two (2) Lanao provinces shall serve as the Regional Coordinators for the first phase of the processing, which shall involve all processing activities prior to the referral of these returnees to the appropriate civilian agencies once the future disposition of these returnees is determined, as well as the grant of amnesty to and the integration into the Armed Forces of the Philippines of those returnees who so desire it and qualify for it.

2. The Regional Commissioners or their representatives shall serve as Regional Coordinators for all activities undertaken once the returnees are referred to civilian agencies by the military commanders in order that their grievances and future status may be properly attended to.

3. Other members of the Regional Coordinating Committees will include representatives of the following agencies:

3.1. Southern Philippines Development Administration

3.2. Department of Social Welfare

3.3. Department of Agrarian Reform

3.4. Department of Education & Culture

3.5. Task Force on Labor

3.6. Development Bank of the Philippines

The National Coordinator is hereby empowered to define rules, regulations and procedures to be followed by the different participating agencies in the implementation of this system.

All departments, bureaus, agencies, offices and instrumentalities of government, to include government-owned and controlled corporations and local government units are hereby directed to extend full cooperation to the National and Regional Coordinating Committees when call upon to do so in order that speedy integration of these returnees into society may be effected.1aшphi1

This Order takes effect immediately.

By authority of the President:

(Sgd.) ROBERTO V. REYES
Acting Executive Secretary

Manila, 17 October 1975

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