Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 333)
The suspension was due to the establishment that lawless elements in the country joined forces to wage armed rebellion and forcibly seize political power to overthrow the duly constituted authorities.
The writ of habeas corpus is a legal procedure that protects individuals from unlawful detention. Its privilege was suspended to address the armed rebellion and threats to public order as established by the government.
The committee is composed of Hon. Catalino Macaraig, Jr. as Chairman (Undersecretary of Justice), Hon. Efren Plana as Member (Undersecretary of National Defense), and Atty. Ronaldo B. Zamora as Member (Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary).
The Peace and Order Coordinating Council serves as the Secretariat of the Presidential Administrative Assistance Committee.
The committee has the power, within the limits of constitutional law, to look into possible excesses resulting from the implementation of the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and provide speedy redress to aggrieved persons.
The committee ensures oversight to prevent abuses or excesses during the suspension period and provides a mechanism for individuals to seek redress if their rights are violated.
The suspension was officially declared on August 21, 1971, by Proclamation No. 889.
By suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus to counter rebellion while simultaneously creating a committee to investigate and address abuses, it seeks to balance security concerns with constitutional protections.