Whereas Clauses. WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 77 was issued to provide a procedure for conducting preliminary investigations which is more conducive to the speedy administration of justice;

WHEREAS, while the said Decree has served its purpose, the requirement therein that complainants and respondents and their witnesses must have their statements subscribed and sworn to before the investigating fiscal is still causing undue delay in the disposition of cases and unnecessary expenses to the parties especially where they come from the remote places or reside in cities or provinces different from the situs of the crime;

WHEREAS, there is likewise a need to provide for closer supervision and control by the Secretary of Justice over fiscals and state prosecutors in the performance of their functions to better assure fair dispensation of justice;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order: