Proclamation No. 1103 (Marcos)

by Ferdinand Marcos

Layout 2

MALACAÑANG
RESIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
MANILA

PROCLAMATION No. 1103

DECLARING THAT THE INTERIM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE XVII (TRANSITORY PROVISIONS) OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION BE NOT CONVENED.

Whereas, Barangays (Citizens Assemblies) were created in barrios in municipalities and in districts/wards in chartered cities pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 86 dated December 31, 1972, composed of all persons who are residents of the barrios, district or ward for at least six months, fifteen years of age or over, citizens of the Philippines and who are registered in the list of Citizen Assembly members kept by the barrio, district or ward secretary;

Whereas, the said Barangays were established precisely to broaden the base of citizen participation in the democratic process and to afford ample opportunities for the citizenry to express their views on important national issues;

Whereas, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 86–A dated January 5, 1973 and Presidential Decree No. 86–B dated January 7, 1973, this question was posed before the Barangays: Do you approve the New Constitution?

Whereas, fourteen million nine hundred seventy-six thousand five hundred sixty one (14,976,561) members of all the Barangays voted for the adoption of the proposed Constitution, as against seven hundred forty-three thousand eight hundred sixty-nine (743,869) who voted for its rejection; but a majority of those who approved the new Constitution conditioned their votes on the demand that the interim National Assembly provided in its Transitory Provisions should not be convened;

Whereas, under Article XVII, Section 3 (1) of the New Constitution, the President is vested with the discretion when to convene the interim National Assembly;

Now, therefore, I, Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and in deference to the sovereign will of the Filipino people, do hereby declare that the convening of the interim National Assembly provided for in Article XVII (Transitory Provisions) of the new Constitution shall be suspended.

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 17th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.

By the President: