WHEREAS, martial law has been declared under
Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and is now in effect
throughout the entire country;
WHEREAS, one of the objectives of the proclamation
of martial law is to effect social, economic and political reforms, and
thus bring about the transformation of a New Society in our country, a
Society infused with a profound sense of discipline and order;
WHEREAS, there has been rampant illegal
installations connections of telephones perpetrated by unscrupulous
persons in connivance with the employees and/or officials of the
telephone companies;
WHEREAS, there is an immediate need for stopping
this nefarious activity as it deprives the lawful users of the
telephones of the right to the full use thereof; violates their right to
privacy; jeopardizes the legitimate business of the telephone company
and is inimical to the interest and security of the State where the
purpose of illegal connection is to enhance and further the activities
of the subversive elements;
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, do hereby declare it unlawful for any person, unless authorized by
the proper telephone company /corporation or unless authorized by the
court under the provisions of Section 3 of Republic Act No. 4200 to
install or connect or cause or induce to be installed or connected any
telephone or line whether by connecting it by wire or cable or through
any other means, with already existing telephone duly installed in
private residences or public or private buildings; and I likewise
declare it to be unlawful for any person, whether a participant or not
in the act or acts herein penalized to knowingly possess any such
illegally connected telephone.
Any person who willfully or knowingly does or who shall aid, permit,
or cause to be done any of the act declared unlawful in the preceding
paragraph, or who aids, permits, or causes such violation shall, upon
conviction suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months to
two years as a Military Tribunal may direct.
This Decree shall take effect immediately, however, persons now in
possession of telephones illegally installed or connected are given up
to November 30, 1972 to remove or register if legally feasible, and pay
the corresponding charges for the installations or connection and use of
the telephones.
Done in the City of Manila, this 16th day of November, in the year of
Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA
Assistant Executive Secretary