Question & AnswerQ&A (GENERAL ORDER NO. 5)
All rallies, demonstrations, and other forms of group actions by persons within the Philippines are prohibited, including strikes and picketing in vital industries such as fuel gas, gasoline, fuel or lubricating oil manufacturing or distribution, production or processing of essential commodities for export, banking, hospitals, and educational institutions.
The vital industries include companies engaged in the manufacture, processing, or distribution of fuel gas, gasoline, fuel or lubricating oil; production or processing of essential commodities or export products; banking of any kind; hospitals; and schools and colleges.
Persons violating the order shall be arrested and taken into custody, and held for the duration of the national emergency or until ordered released by the President or his designated representative.
Only the President or his duly designated representative has the authority to order the release of persons arrested under this order.
The legal basis is the grave national emergency declared under Proclamation No. 1081, justified by a criminal conspiracy to seize political power by force and violence, which necessitates prohibiting acts that could exacerbate turmoil or threaten public order.
The prohibition lasts until otherwise ordered by the President or his duly designated representative, effectively for the duration of the national emergency.
Such acts are prohibited because they might cause hysteria or panic, incense the people against the legitimate government, generate sympathy for radical and lawless elements, or aggravate the critical political and social turmoil.