Presidential Decree No. 364

DECLARING GENERAL AMNESTY FOR PERSONS WHO FAILED TO REGISTER AND/OR VOTE IN THE NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON JULY 27-28, 1973

WHEREAS, under Section 4, Article V of the New Constitution, it is the obligation of every qualified citizen to register and cast his vote;

WHEREAS, in pursuance of said constitutional provision Presidential Decrees No. 210 and 229 were issued imposing penalties for failure to register and/or cast a vote;

WHEREAS, this is the first time in the history of our political development that penalties are imposed for failure to register and/or cast a vote; and

WHEREAS, at this time it is the concern of the leadership of government to unite the nation and to encourage the citizenry to pursue constructive activities without distraction;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby declare and decree a general amnesty for all persons who, as first offenders, failed to register and/or vote as required.

Done in the City of Manila, this 3rd day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.