GENERAL ORDER NO. 20, January 07, 1972

[ GENERAL ORDER NO. 20, January 07, 1972 ]

WHEREAS, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 73 dated December 1, 1972, a plebiscite has been called on January 15, 1973 at which the proposed Constitution of the Philippines shall be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection;

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 86, dated December 31, 1972, created Citizens Assemblies so as to afford ample opportunities for the citizenry to express their views on important national issues;

WHEREAS, one of the questions presented to the Citizens Assemblies is: "Do you like the plebiscite on the proposed Constitution to be held later?"

WHEREAS, it is necessary to hold in abeyance the plebiscite until the people's preference has been ascertained;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, do hereby o order that the plebiscite scheduled to be held on January 15, 1973, be postponed until further notice.

I further order that the provisions of Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 73 insofar as they allow free public discussion of the proposed Constitution, as well as my order of December 17, 1972, temporarily suspending the effects of Proclamation No. 1081 for the purposes of free and open debate on the proposed Constitution, be suspended in the meantime.

Done in the City of Manila this 7th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary