QuestionsQuestions (LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS No. 1481)
LOI No. 1481 states that the Boy Scouts of the Philippines is a public corporation created by Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 111, as amended by Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 460.
The President of the Philippines is designated as Chief Scout. The LOI notes that confirmation of the President as Chief Scout is necessary for amendments of the BSP Constitution and By-Laws, and for membership in the National Executive Board.
It declares all positions in the National Executive Board vacant.
The Charter-Life members shall (1) constitute themselves into a Temporary Executive Committee to call for and supervise the election of a new National Executive Board (including its officers), and (2) reorganize the staff of the BSP National Headquarters.
It declares that all amendments to the BSP By-Laws effected by the National Executive Board after December 18, 1978 are null and void ab initio. 'Ab initio' means the amendments are treated as invalid from the beginning, as if they never had legal effect.
The LOI draws a cutoff date: any BSP By-Law amendments effected by the National Executive Board after December 18, 1978 are declared null and void.
It applies only to amendments effected by the National Executive Board after December 18, 1978.
It emphasizes that confirmation of the President as Chief Scout is necessary for amendments of the BSP Constitution and By-Laws and for membership in the National Executive Board, thus tying presidential confirmation to BSP’s governance and legitimacy.
It implies that the 1974 restructuring set guiding principles for BSP’s organization, and that later unauthorized amendments violated those principles, warranting corrective action through the LOI.
It directs that the Temporary Executive Committee reorganize the staff of the BSP National Headquarters.
First, all National Executive Board positions are declared vacant. Then Charter-Life members form a Temporary Executive Committee to supervise the election of a new National Executive Board (including its officers).
Based on the LOI’s cutoff, an amendment made after December 18, 1978 (e.g., December 19, 1978) would be declared null and void ab initio under LOI No. 1481, assuming it was effected by the National Executive Board.