EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 179

: Commonwealth Act No. 312, which amended Commonwealth Act No. 1 (The National Defense Act), authorizes the designation of a Chief of Staff in the Army of the Philippines.
: Major General Basilio J. Valdes was designated as Chief of Staff effective January 1, 1939.
: Major General Paulino Santos was relieved as Chief of Staff on December 31, 1938, and retired from active service on the same date.
: The authority comes from section twenty-two of Commonwealth Act No. 1.
: The Chief of Staff assumes the duties prescribed in the National Defense Act and pertinent executive orders related to the General Staff Corps of the Army.
: Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines, signed Executive Order No. 179.
: Commonwealth Act No. 312 amends the National Defense Act and provides provisions for the designation and changes in the General Staff Corps, such as the appointment or relief of the Chief of Staff.
: Jorge B. Vargas was the Secretary to the President who attested the order.
: January 1, 1939 is the date on which the new Chief of Staff assumed his duties.