MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
[ Memorandum Order No. 23, July 26, 2001 ]
DELEGATING TO THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CERTAIN ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) MATTERS REQUIRING THE PRESIDENTS PERSONAL ACTION AND/OR APPROVAL
The President is the Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). As such, she holds supreme military authority and is ceremonial, legal, and administrative head thereof. Part of the Presidents function is to act on AFP matters requiring Presidential action and/or approval.
The President shall continue to personally act on the following AFP matters requiring Presidential approval, to wit:
1. APPOINTMENT AS CADET/ CADETTE OF THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY
2. COMMISSION OF OFFICERS (REGULAR AND RESERVE FORCES)
3. APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION OF OFFICERS (REGULAR AND RESERVE FORCES)
4. APPROVAL OF TRAVEL OF THE AFP CHIEF-OF-STAFF
5. KEY DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
6. DETAIL OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL
7. RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS
8. EXTENSION OF SERVICE OF THE AFP CHIEF-OF-STAFF
9. AWARD, MEDAL FOR VALOR
10. AWARD, PHILIPPINE LEGION OF HONOR
11. AWARD, KAGITINGAN SA BARANGAY (LAKAN)
However, in the exigency of public service and in order to promote sound principles of governance to allow the President to concentrate on more vital and pressing matters relative to her function, the President delegates to the Executive Secretary the following AFP matters requiring Presidential approval, to wit:
1. SEPARATION; DROPPING FROM THE ROLLS; DISCHARGE AND OTHER PUNITIVE ACTS, PMA CADET/ CADETTE
2. SEPARATION; DROPPING FROM THE ROLLS, DISCHARGE AND OTHER PUNITIVE ACTS OF OFFICERS (REGULAR AND RESERVE)
3. TRAVEL AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS except THE AFP CHIEF OF STAFF
4. SCHOOLING OF OFFICERS
5. CHANGE OF BRANCH OF SERVICE
6. LATERAL ENTRY
7. RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS (REGULAR AND RESERVE)
8. REVERSION OF RESERVE OFFICERS
9. OTHERS i.e. AMENDMENT OF EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION, AMENDMENT OF SERIAL NUMBER, NULLIFICATION OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE AUTHORITY OF SEPARATION WITH CDD, and the like.
As a matter of practice and long tradition in the Office of the President, it is the Executive Secretary who signs “By Authority of the President” concerning AFP documents and papers which may be signed at his level. It is also provided under the Administrative Code of 1987, as amended, that the Executive Secretary exercises primary authority to sign papers “By Authority of the President.” (par. 10, Sec. 27, Chapter IX, Title III, Book III.)
The foregoing, however, should not preclude the President from exercising the same powers and functions.1aшphi1
All presidential issuances or orders not consistent with this Memorandum Order are hereby modified and/or repealed.
This Order shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 26th day of July in the year of the Lord, Two Thousand and One.
(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
By the President:
(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary
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