GENERAL ORDER No. 8

GENERAL ORDER No. 8

WHEREAS, martial law has been declared under Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972 and is now in effect throughout the land;

WHEREAS, martial law having been declared because of wanton destruction of lives and property, widespread lawlessness and anarchy, and chaos and disorder now prevailing throughout the country, which condition has been brought about by groups of men who are actively engaged in a criminal conspiracy to seize political and state power in the Philippines in order to take over the Government by force and violence, the extent of which has now assumed the proportion of an actual war against our people and their legitimate Government; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to General Order No. 3, dated September 22, 1972, issued under Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, I have ordered that certain criminal cases be tried by special military tribunals, which may be created by me or upon my orders;

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 order that henceforth the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, is empowered to create military tribunals to try and decide cases of military personnel and such other cases as may be referred to them.

Done in the City of Manila, this 27th day of September, in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines