05/02/2020 R.A. 6766 Section 14. The Regional Government shall promote and support duly established people's organizations and encourage the formation of organizations, especially those of the underprivileged. Guidelines and accreditation standards to define the conditions required of peoples' organizations shall be set with out abridging their right to effective participation and representation. ARTICLE XVII Human Rights Section 1. The Cordillera Assembly may create the Cordillera Commission on Human Rights and define its powers and functions, subject to the Constitution and national laws, and to the supervision of the National Commission on Human Rights. ARTICLE XVIII PEACE AND ORDER Section 1. The Regional Government shall give priority to the maintenance and preservation of peace and order and the protection of life, liberty and property in the Autonomous Region, in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution. Section 2. The Cordillera Assembly shall, by law, create a Regional Police Force as an integral part of the Philippine National Police under the administration and control of the National Police Commission. It shall be headed by a police commissioner with two (2) deputies, who shall all be inhabitants of the Autonomous Region, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Cordillera Governor. Section 3. The regional police shall be under the supervision of the Cordillera Governor: Provided, That city or municipal mayors, who are hereby constituted as ex officio representatives of the National Police Commission, shall have operational control and supervision of the police force within their constituent units in accordance with law and appropriate rules and regulations. Section 4. The defense and security of the Autonomous Region shall be the responsibility of the National Government. Towards this end, there is hereby created a regional command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the Autonomous Region, which shall be organized, maintained and utilized in accordance with national laws. The National Government shall have the authority to station and deploy in the Autonomous Region sufficient elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines: Provided, That inhabitants of the Autonomous Region shall be given preference in assignments therein. Section 5. The provisions of the preceding sections notwithstanding, the Cordillera Governor may request the President of the Philippines to call upon the Armed Forces of the Philippines: (a) To prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion, when the public safety so requires, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution; (b) To suppress the danger to or breach of peace in the area of autonomy, when the police forces of the Autonomous Region are not able to do so; and (c) To avert any imminent danger to public order and security in the area of autonomy. Section 6. The Regional Government shall recognize indigenous structures or systems found to be acceptable and effective in the promotion of peace and order in the region. ARTICLE XIX General Provisions Section 1. This Organic Act shall be officially promulgated in Filipino and English and translated into the languages or dialects widely spoken in the Autonomous Region. In case of conflict, the English text shall prevail. Section 2. For purposes of qualification for any elective or appointive public office in the Cordillera Autonomous Region, the person to be elected or appointed must have resided in the region for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the election or appointment. Section 3. The Congress, may, upon recommendation of the Cordillera Assembly, adopt a new name for the Cordillera Autonomous Region. Section 4. The Cordillera Assembly may provide for just compensation for barangay or ili officials. Section 5. The Cordillera Assembly shall devise a system providing that salary rates of employees shall not be lower than the poverty line as determined by competent authority. Section 6. The Regional Government shall have a regional emblem and hymn. Section 7. The Cordillera Assembly may establish a Veterans, Retirees and Senior Citizens Affairs Office, and provide for the composition, compensation, qualifications, term of office, functions, and manner of appointment of the members. ARTICLE XX Amendments or Revisions Section 1. Consistent with the provisions of the Constitution, this Organic Act may be amended or revised by the Congress of the Philippines, upon a majority vote of the House of Representatives and of the Senate voting separately. Section 2. The Cordillera Assembly shall have the power to initiate proposals for amendment to or revision of this Organic Act by a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of all its Members or it may call for a Regional Consultative Commission to propose the amendment or revision. In any case, the amendment or revision shall require the approval of the Congress of the Philippines. Section 3. Amendments to or revisions of this Organic Act may, likewise, be directly proposed by the people to the Congress of the Philippines upon petition of at least twelve percent (12%) of the total number of the registered voters of the Autonomous Region, of which every province or city must be represented by at least three percent (3%) of the registered voters therein. No amendment or revision under this section shall be authorized within three (3) years following the ratification of this Organic Act or oftener than once every five (5) years thereafter. Section 4. Any amendment to or revision of this Organic Act shall become effective when ratified by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite called for the purpose which shall be held not earlier than sixty (60) days or later than ninety (90) days after the approval of such amendments or revisions. ARTICLE XXI Transitory Provisions https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1989/ra_6766_1989.html 12/14