Memorandum Order No. 21

Section 2(4), Article IX-C of the Constitution empowers the COMELEC to deputize law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, such as the AFP and PNP, to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections, subject to the concurrence of the President; WHEREAS,

Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution provides that the President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines; and WHEREAS,

Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices. NOW, THEREFOR, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by he Constitution and existing laws, hereby CONCUR with the COMELEC Resolution No. 10973, deputizing the AFP, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government in connection with the 9 March 2024 plebiscite to ratify the creation of Barangays Sultan Corobong, Sultan Panoroganan, and Angoyao in the City of Marawi, Province of Lanao del Norte. The foregoing law enforcement agencies and other concerned agencies are hereby directed to coordinate and cooperate with the COMELEC in the performance of their duties and functions, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations. DONE. in the City of Manila, this 1 st day of March 2024, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.   (SGD.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. By the President: (SGD.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN Executive Secretary