P.B. No. 1277 / 81 OG No. 27, 2755 (July 8, 1985)

[ BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 876, June 12, 1985 ]

AN ACT TO INCLUDE ALL AUTHORIZED WATER, GAS, ELECTRIC, AND TELEPHONE UTILITIES WITHIN THE COVERAGE OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 401, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled:

SECTION 1. The fourth paragraph of Presidential Decree Numbered Four
hundred and one, dated March 1, 1974, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

"NOW, THEREFORE, I FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, and General
Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and
decree that any person who installs any water, gas, electrical or
telephone connection without previous authority from any authorized
public utility, or service entity concerned, whether government or
privately owned, as the case may be; tampers and/or knowingly uses
tampered water, gas or electric meters or other devices whereby water,
gas or electricity is stolen; steals water, gas, electric and/or
electric meter or water, gas, electric and/or telephone wires, piped gas
pipes or conduits and poles; knowingly possesses stolen water, gas,
and/or electric meters as well as stolen water, gas, electric and poles;
shall, upon conviction, be punished by prision correccional in
its minimum period or a fine ranging from two thousand to six thousand
pesos, or both, without prejudice to the provisions of Presidential
Decree No. 1612. If the violation is committed with the connivance or
permission of an employee or officer of the utility or service entity
concerned, such employee or officer, shall, upon conviction, be punished
by prision correccional and forthwith be perpetually
disqualified from employment in any public or private utility or service
company."

SEC. 2. All laws, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 12, 1985.

Source: Supreme Court E-Library