Law Summary
Primary Purpose and Scope
- To enforce provisions of the Constitution and nationalization laws requiring specific citizenship for the exercise of rights, franchises, privileges, properties, or businesses.
- To coordinate government agencies enforcing these laws, focusing on the Anti-Dummy Law (Commonwealth Act No. 108, as amended).
- To publish and maintain a list of corporations and associations controlled or named having reserved rights requiring Filipino or U.S. citizenship ownership thresholds.
- Aims to eliminate or prevent evasion or circumvention of citizenship requirements.
Duties and Functions
- Investigate and prosecute violators known as "dummies".
- Provide professional services to informers under section 3-A of Commonwealth Act No. 108 (as amended by RA 134).
- Participate as amicus curiae in relevant court cases.
- Develop educational campaigns against dummy arrangements.
- Organize local subcommittees in cities and municipalities, including provincial chapters, to support anti-dummy efforts.
- Issue rules and regulations governing the Board and subcommittees.
- Perform additional duties to fulfill the Board's objectives.
Powers to Investigate
- Authority to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum.
- Power to designate officers or investigators to administer oaths.
- Examine books and accounts of any person, association, or corporation involved in dummy cases.
Organizational Structure and Meetings
- Main office in Manila; meetings held at designated times.
- Quorum requires presence of three members.
- Distribution of work by lot; Chairman supervises.
- Members (except Chairman) receive an annual salary of ₱4,800, unless already government officials.
Secretary-Treasurer and Staffing
- Secretary-Treasurer must be a member of the Philippine Bar, appointed by the Board, with a salary of ₱6,000 annually.
- Responsibilities include record-keeping, fund management, and disbursing approved accounts.
- The Board may appoint attorneys, investigators (must be lawyers or CPAs), and other staff; investigators' minimum salary is ₱3,600 per annum.
- The President may detail government attorneys or employees to assist the Board, counting towards official service.
Enforcement Authority
- Permanent Board personnel, detailed employees, and specified government agents are deputies of the Board.
- Deputized personnel have full authority to enforce relevant laws and effect arrests for violations.
Budget and Appropriations
- An initial appropriation of ₱200,000 from the National Treasury for Fiscal Year 1955 for operations, personnel salaries, equipment, and expenses.
- Subsequent funding to be included in the General Appropriation Act.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect July 1, 1954.