Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 51)
Executive Order No. 51 is titled "Transferring Certain Police and Law Enforcement Powers to the Chief of Staff, Army of the Philippines, and Authorizing Him to Organize a Military Police Command and to Prescribe Rules for the Conduct and Administration Thereof," dated June 7, 1945.
It was promulgated by virtue of the powers vested in the President by Commonwealth Act No. 671, which declared a state of total emergency due to war involving the Philippines and authorized the President to promulgate rules and regulations to meet such emergency.
The function of preserving peace and maintaining law and order, which previously devolved upon the Philippine Constabulary, is transferred to the Chief of Staff, Philippine Army.
The Chief of Staff shall exercise the functions through a Provost Marshal General, Philippine Army, and Military Police companies and other units, officers, and enlisted men of the Philippine Army as may be required.
The Chief of Staff is responsible for organizing the Military Police units and other Army officers and enlisted men into a Military Police Command charged with executing all police duties and functions previously assigned to the Philippine Constabulary.
Subject to the approval of the President, the Chief of Staff may prescribe and issue regulations for the organization, conduct, and administration of the Military Police Command.
Commonwealth Act No. 343, Executive Order No. 153 dated June 23, 1938, and Executive Order No. 182 dated January 30, 1939.
The Order was made effective starting June 7, 1945.
Commonwealth Act No. 671 declared a state of total emergency due to war and authorized the President to promulgate necessary rules and regulations, providing the legal basis for this transfer of law enforcement powers.