Marcos: Adopt Omnibus Guidelines on freedom of association, civil liberties

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has ordered the adoption of the Omnibus Guidelines on the Exercise of the Freedom of Association and Civil Liberties. 

Through Executive Order No. 97, Marcos directed the adoption of Joint Memorandum Order (JMO) No. 1 (s. 2024) or the "Omnibus Guidelines on the Exercise of Freedom of Association and Civil Liberties,'' with the aim to govern the conduct of all stakeholders in promoting the effective exercise by private sector workers of their freedom of association and civil liberties.

The following agencies and instrumentalities are then directed to implement JMO No. 1, consistent with their relevant mandates under existing laws, rules, and regulations:

a. Department of Labor and Employment;
b. Department of the Interior and Local Government;
c. Department of Justice;
d. Department of National Defense;
e. Department of Trade and Industry, including Investment Promotion Agencies;
f. AFP, including Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active
Auxiliaries and Special CAFGU Active Auxiliaries;
g. Philippine National Police, including its Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies;
h. National Security Council, including NTF-ELCAC; and
i. Other Security Personnel, as defined in JMO No.1.

Under the EO, all concerned agencies and instrumentalities shall integrate JMO No. 1 into their respective policies, training programs, operations manuals, and information and education materials.

Further, the DOLE, through the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, shall monitor
the implementation and compliance of concerned agencies, and coordinate with
the Inter-Agency Committee for periodic review and adjustments.

The Inter-Agency Committee is also tasked to provide regular reports to the Office of the
President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, within six months from
the implementation of the EO, and every year thereafter.

The funding requirements for the implementation of the said EO shall be charged against current and available appropriations of concerned agencies, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations.

Marcos signed the EO last September 19, 2025. —VAL, GMA Integrated News