WHEREAS, such criminal activities have resulted not only in the wanton destruction of lives and properties but have likewise weakened the Nation's economic stability, threatened its security and underlined the general welfare of its citizens;
WHEREAS, said criminal activities continue to grow because of the inadequate evidence-gathering process of the law and the seeming, apathy of the citizens in testifying against entrenched and feared malefactors;
WHEREAS, there is an imperative need to neutralize crimes against National Security or Public Order or organized/syndicated crime in this country before they grow to unmanageable proportions by providing rewards, incentives, protection and, in certain cases, immunity from criminal prosecution to government witnesses, so that the total commitment of our people on the side of law enforcement may be encouraged.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution do hereby order and decree the following:
SECTION l. Definition of Terms. – The following terms shall mean and be 'understood/ construed as follows:
SEC. 2. Whenever in the Judgement of the Minister of National Defense testimony from, or a willingness to testify by a witness, would place in danger the witness life or person, or the life or person of a merger of his family or household, the Minister of National Defense, upon the recommendation of the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary or the chief of any law enforcement agency, is hereby authorized to:
(1) If the penalty imposable for the crime committed is life imprisonment to death, the amount of the reward shall be 50,000 pesos;
(2) If the penalty imposable for the crime committed is imprisonment of from twelve years and one day to twenty years, the amount of the reward shall be 40,000 pesos;
(3) If penalty imposable for the crime committed is imprisonment of from six years and one day to twelve years, the amount of the reward shall be 30,000 pesos;
(4) If the penalty imposable for the crime committed is imprisonment below six years shall be 25,000 pesos.
SEC. 3. Whenever in the judgment of the prosecutor or fiscal the testimony of any witness, who is provided security by the Minister of National Defense pursuant to Section 2 above, is necessary proper application for his production and appearance shall be filled with the Ministry of National Defense.
SEC. 4. Any such informant or witness who shall testify or provide vital information, regarding the existence or activity of a group involved in the commission of crimes against national security or public order, or of an organized/ syndicated crime or crime group, and/or the culpability of individual members thereof in accordance with this Decree shall, upon recommendation of the state prosecutor, fiscal or military lawyer, as approved by the Minister of National Defense or the Minister of Justice, as the case may be, be immune from criminal prosecution for his participation or involvement in any such criminal activity which is the subject of the investigation or prosecution, in addition to the benefits under Sec. 2 hereof: Provided, that, immunity from criminal prosecution shall, in the case of the witness offering to testify, attach only upon his actually testifying in court in accordance with his undertaking as accepted by the state prosecutor, fiscal or military lawyer: Provided, further, that the following conditions are complied with:
SEC 5. In all criminal cases, the fact of the witness1 entitlement to the incentives and other benefits provided for in this Decree shall not be admissible in evidence to diminish or effect his credibility,
SEC. 6. The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Justice are authorized to call directly on other ministries, bureaus, offices and other instrumentalities or agencies of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, in the accomplishment of the above tasks.
SEC. 7. The amount of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry into effect the provisions of this Decree.
SEC. 8. The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Justice shall jointly promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Decree.
SEC. 9. All laws, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with, this Decree are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly,
SEC. 10. Separability clause. — The provisions of this Decree are hereby declared to be separable, and in the event-one or more of such provisions are held unconstitutional, the validity of other provisions shall not be affected thereby.
SEC. 11. This Act shall take effect upon its approval,
Done in the City of Manila this 8th day of October, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President: (Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR. Presidential Assistant