EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 231, August 04, 2003

AMENDING E.O. 153 ENTITLED "INSTITUTING THE NATIONAL DRIVE TO SUPRESS AND ERADICATE PROFESSIONAL SQUATTERS AND SQUATTING SYNDICATES, AMENDING E.O. NOS. 178 S. 1999 AND 129, S. 1993 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES' BY INCLUDING THE PUBLIC ATTORNEYS' OFFICE AS SUPPORT AGENCY

WHEREAS, E.O. 153, series of 2002 mandated the creation of the National Task Force against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates, with the following support agencies: Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), Philippine National Police (PNP) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Land Registration Authority (LRA), Land Management Bureau (LMB) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

WHEREAS, the Public Attorneys' Office is the lead agency assisting in the filing of cases and in providing legal assistance to victims of professional squatters and squatting syndicates.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1.    Section 3 of Executive Order No. 153, series of 2002, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 3. Support of Relevant Agencies. - The HUDCC and the DOJ shall have the authority to call on the following government agencies to give their full support, assistance and cooperation in the course of the implementation of this order:

i. Public Attorneys' Office"

Section 2. All orders, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 3. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 4th day of August in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Three.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO

Executive Secretary