Supervision and Control Over Barangay Officials
- The Secretary of National Defense and the Secretary of Local Government and Community Development hold joint functional control and supervision over barangay and barrio leaders in their peace and order duties.
- These officials must issue joint implementing instructions to guide their responsibilities.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- Barangay or barrio officials who willfully and deliberately fail to perform their peace and order duties without justifiable cause shall face criminal penalties.
- Upon conviction by a competent court, the punishment is imprisonment from six months up to one year.
- Such officials shall also be disqualified from holding any public office or employment for life.
Amendment to Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code
- Defines "Persons in Authority" to include barangay chairmen and barrio captains alongside government officials vested with jurisdiction.
- Includes barrio councilmen, barangay leaders, and persons aiding authorities as "Agents of Persons in Authority."
- Expands the definition in relation to school authorities, including teachers, professors, and school supervisors as persons in authority under relevant Articles of the Penal Code.
Effectivity
- The provisions take effect immediately upon issuance.
This decree thereby clearly delineates and broadens the responsibilities of barangay and barrio officials in maintaining peace and order, establishes supervisory mechanisms, specifies penalties for neglect, and amends legal definitions to avoid ambiguity relating to their authority in law enforcement functions.