Amendment re: Barangay Officials' Authority

Presidential Decree No. 299 is issued pursuant to the President’s constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The decree is issued pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972 and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, as amended.
The decree’s operative act is an amendment to Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815, as amended).

The decree recognizes that barangays are created throughout the land to broaden citizen participation in the democratic process and to allow citizens to express views on vital national issues.
The decree places responsibility for the successful operation of barangays on barrio captains and council members in municipal districts, municipalities, or chartered cities where barrios exist.
The decree places responsibility on the barangay chairman and barangay leaders where there are no barrios.
The decree vests barangay officials with the same authority and/or responsibility as barrio captain and council members, respectively.
The decree provides that the barangay chairman and barangay leaders should be safeguarded against harm or injury to prevent interference with their movement while pursuing barangay objectives.

Article 152 defines who is “deemed” a person in authority for purposes of applying the Penal Code provisions on persons in authority and agents of persons in authority.
Article 152 provides that any person directly vested with jurisdiction, whether as an individual or as a member of a court or governmental corporation, board, or commission, is deemed a person in authority.
Article 152 expressly provides that a barrio captain and a barangay chairman are also deemed persons in authority.

Article 152 provides that any person who, by direct provision of law or by election or appointment by competent authority, is charged with maintenance of public order and protection and security of life and property is deemed an agent of a person in authority.
Article 152 gives examples of such agents, including a barrio councilman, barrio policeman, and barangay leader.
Article 152 provides that any person who comes to the aid of persons in authority is deemed an agent of a person in authority.

Article 152 provides that, in applying Articles 148 and 151 of the Revised Penal Code, teachers are deemed persons in authority.
Article 152 provides that professors are deemed persons in authority.
Article 152 provides that persons charged with the supervision of public or duly recognized private schools, colleges and universities are deemed persons in authority.

Section 2 states that Presidential Decree No. 299 takes effect immediately.
The decree is dated and signed in the City of Manila on September 19, 1973.