Question & AnswerQ&A (OP GENERAL ORDER NO. 1)
The main purpose of General Order No. 1, May 01, 2001, is to direct the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to suppress and quell the rebellion in the National Capital Region.
The crime of rebellion is punishable under Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines.
According to Article VII, Section 18 of the Philippine Constitution, the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces, has the authority to call out such armed forces to suppress rebellion.
The constitutional basis is Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which empowers the President as Commander-in-Chief to call out the armed forces to suppress rebellion.
The order directs the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police to immediately carry out necessary and appropriate actions and measures to suppress and quell the rebellion, with due regard to constitutional rights.
The President acts as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and is vested with the power to call out the military and police forces to suppress the rebellion and maintain the government's authority.
Acts include assaulting and attempting to break into Malacañang, rising publicly, showing open hostility, taking up arms against the government to overthrow it, and attempting to deprive the President of her powers.
Proclamation No. 38 dated May 1, 2001, serves as the legal basis authorizing the President to mobilize the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police to suppress the rebellion.
The intended recipients are the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Chief of the Philippine National Police, officers, and men of both the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police.
The mobs were reportedly armed with explosives, firearms, bladed weapons, clubs, stones, and other deadly weapons.