Proclamation No. 503             December 6, 1989

DECLARING A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, the rebellion has resulted in senseless loss of lives, destruction of properties and serious social and economic damage;

WHEREAS, while the rebellion has been contained, some remnants of the rebels continue to operate in certain areas;

WHEREAS, the activities of rebel groups still holed up in key financial and commercial centers of the country are causing serious destabilization to the economy of the country;

WHEREAS, Article XII, Section 17 of the Constitution states, that:

"In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, pursuant to the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby proclaim a state of national emergency throughout the Philippines.

Upon my directive, appropriate emergency measures shall henceforth be strictly carried out by the duly authorized head of the concerned agency of the Government.

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 6th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-nine.


The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation