Presidential Decree No. 533 (PD 533) — Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974
WHEREAS, large cattle are indispensable to the livelihood
and economic growth of our people, particularly the agricultural
workers, because such large cattle are the work-animals of our farmers
and the source of fresh meat and dairy products for our people, and
provide raw material for our tanning and canning industries;
WHEREAS, reports from the law-enforcement agencies reveal
that there is a resurgence of thievery of large cattle, commonly known
as "cattle rustling", especially in the rural areas, thereby directly
prejudicing the livelihood of the agricultural workers and adversely
affecting our food production program for self-sufficiency in rice, corn
and other staple crops, as well as in fresh meat;
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to protect large cattle
raising industry and small time large cattle owners and raisers from the
nefarious activities of lawless elements in order to encourage our
hardworking cattle raisers and farmers to raise more cattle and
concentrate in their agricultural workers and adversely affecting our
good food production program for self-sufficiency in rice, corn and
other staple crops, as well as in fresh meat;
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to protect large cattle
raising industry and small time large cattle owners and raisers from the
nefarious activities of lawless elements in order to encourage our
hardworking cattle raisers and farmers to raise more cattle and
concentrate in their agricultural works, thus increasing our source of
meat and dairy products as well as agricultural production and allied
industries which depends on the cattle raising industry;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the
Constitution and pursuant to Proclamations No. 1081, dated September
21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973 and General Order No. 1
dated September 22, 1972, do hereby order and decree as part of the law
of the land, the following:
Title.
SECTION 1. Title. — This Decree shall be known as the
"Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974."
Definition of terms.
SEC. 2. Definition of terms. — The following terms
shall mean and be understood to be as herein denned:
Large cattle as herein used shall include the cow,
carabao, horse, mule, ass, or other domesticated member of the bovine
family.
Owner/raiser shall include the herdsman, caretaker,
employee or tenant of any firm or entity engaged in the raising of large
cattle or other persons in lawful possession of such large cattle.
Cattle rustling is the taking away by any means,
method or scheme, without the consent of the owner/raiser, of any of the
above-mentioned animals whether or not for profit or gain, or whether
committed with or without violence against or intimidation of any person
or force upon things. It includes the killing of large cattle, or
taking its meat or hide without the consent of the owner/raiser.
Duty of owner/raiser to register.
SEC. 3. Duty of owner/raiser to register. — The
owner, raiser shall, before the large cattle belonging to him shall
attain the age of six months, register the same with the office of the
city, municipal treasurer where such large cattle are raised. The
city/municipality concerned may impose and collect the fees authorized
by existing laws for such registration and the issuance of a certificate
of ownership to the owner/raiser.
Duty of city/municipal treasurers and other concerned public officers and employees.
SEC. 4. Duty of city/municipal treasurers and other
concerned public officers and employees. — All public officials and
employees concerned with the registration of large cattle are required
to observe strict adherence with pertinent provisions of Chapter 22,
Sections 611 to 534, of the Revised Administrative Code, except insofar
as they may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree.
Permit to buy and sell large cattle.
SEC. 5. Permit to buy and sell large cattle. — No
person partnership, association, corporation or entity shall engage in
the business of buy and sell of large cattle without first securing a
permit for the said purpose from the Provincial Commander of the
province where it shall conduct such business and the city/municipal
treasurer of the place of residence of such person, partnership,
association, corporation or entity. The permit shall only be valid in
such province.
Clearance for shipment of large cattle.
SEC. 6. Clearance for shipment of large cattle. —
Any person, partnership, association, corporation or entity desiring to
ship or transport large cattle, its hides, or meat, from one province
to another shall secure a permit for such purpose from the Provincial
Commander of the province where the large cattle is registered. Before
issuance of the permit herein prescribed, the Provincial Commander shall
require the submission of the certificate of ownership as prescribed in
Presumption of cattle rustling.
SEC. 7. Presumption of cattle rustling. — Every
person having in his possession, control or custody of large cattle
shall, upon demand by competent authorities, exhibit the documents
prescribed in the preceding sections. Failure to exhibit the required
documents shall be prima facie evidence that the large cattle in
his possession, control or custody are the fruits of the crime of cattle
rustling.
Penal provisions.
SEC. 8. Penal provisions. — Any person convicted
of cattle rustling as herein denned shall, irrespective of the value of
the large cattle involved, be punished by prision mayor in its
maximum period to reclusion temporal in its medium period of the
offense is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons
or force upon things, If the offense is committed with violence against
or intimidation of persons or force upon things, the penalty of reclusion
temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua shall
be imposed. If a person is seriously injured or killed as a result or on
the occasion of the commission of cattle rustling, the penalty of reclusion
perpetua to death shall be imposed.
When the offender is a government official or employee, he
shall, in addition to the foregoing penalty, be disqualified from voting
or being voted upon in any election/referendum and from holding any
public office or employment.
When the offender is an alien, he
shall be deported immediately upon the completion of the service of his
sentence without further proceedings.
Rules and Regulations to he promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary.
SEC. 9. Rules and
Regulations to he promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary. — The
chief of Constabulary shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of this Decree.
Repealing clause.
SEC. 10. Repealing clause. — The provisions of
Articles 309 and 310 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised
Penal Code, as amended, pertinent provisions of the Revised
Administrative Code, as amended, all laws, decrees, orders,
instructions, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this
Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity.
SEC. 11. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take
effect upon approval.
Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Section 3 hereof, a certification from the Provincial Veterinarian to
the effect that such large cattle, hides or meat are free from any
disease; and such other documents or records as may be necessary.
Shipment of large cattle, its hides or meat from one city/municipality
to another within the same province may be done upon securing permit
from the city/municipal treasurer of the place of origin.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
