THE ANTI-CATTLE RUSTLING LAW OF 1974

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 533
• Sections: 13

Preamble

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:

Section 1 Title.

SECTION 1. Title. — This Decree shall be known as the

"Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974."

Section 2 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.

Section 3 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.

Section 4 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.

Section 5 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.

Section 6 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

Section 7 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.

Section 8 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.

Section 9 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.

Section 10 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.

Section 11 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

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.