AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS SIX, TWELVE, SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FIVE HUNDRED NINE AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIX HUNDRED EIGHT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PRICE CONTROL LAW.

• Number: Republic Act No. 729
• Sections: 5

Section 1

SECTION 1. Section six of Republic Act Numbered Five hundred nine as amended by Republic Act Six hundred eight is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 6. In order to facilitate the determination of the maximum ceiling price of any article, goods or commodity, and for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act, the Price Administration Board and the local price administration committees shall, directly or through commercial agents, the Price Stabilization Corporation, provincial, city and municipal treasurers, Internal Revenue Agents, Supervisors of the National Cooperative Administration, and city and municipal police forces have the power (a) to examine bills of lading, bills of sale, invoices, books, records and other pertinent documents owned or in the possession of any importer, producer, manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer; and (b) upon the issuance of a search warrant, to inspect premises, bodegas or storerooms where stocks or articles, goods or commodities whose prices are controlled, are kept. The Board and the local price administration committees may, by subpoena or subpoena duces tecum require any person to appear and testify or to appear and produce books, records and other documents, or both, and in the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued to any such person, the municipal court or the justice of the peace court of the city or municipality in which such importer, wholesaler, retailer, manufacturer or producer is found or resides or transacts business, upon application, and after notice to any such person and hearing, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce books, records and other writings, or both, and any failure to obey such order of the court shall be punished by such court as contempt thereof. Provided, That for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act, price control agents snail be considered as peace officers and as such shall have the following powers:

"(a) To make arrests, searches and seizures in accordance with existing laws and regulations; (b) to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum for the appearance at Government expense of any person for investigation; (c) to take and require sworn truthful statements of any person or persons so summoned in relation to cases under investigation, subject to constitutional restrictions; (d) to administer oaths upon cases under investigation."

Section 2

SEC. 2. The first paragraph of section twelve of Republic Act Numbered Five hundred nine as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 12. Imprisonment for a period of not less than two months nor more than twelve years or a fine of not less than two hundred pesos nor more than ten thousand pesos or both, shall be imposed upon any person who sells any article, goods or commodity in excess of the maximum selling price fixed by the President; or who hoards or keeps articles, goods or commodities mentioned in section one hereof or such other merchandise the price of which has been placed under control in excess of the quantities reported by him to the Price Administration Board; or who refuses to sell any merchandise displayed and offered for sale in his establishment, store or stall, or any merchandise which though not displayed are in stock; or who having in stock merchandise the price of which is under control shall transfer the same or make a false or fictitious sale of all or any portion thereof so as to defeat the purposes of this Act; or who fails or refuses to file with the said Board an inventory of his stock and/or to transmit copies of bills of lading or bills of sale, or who violates any provision of this Act or any rules or regulations issued by the President pursuant to the provisions of this Act: Provided, however, That in the case of aliens, in addition to the penalty herein provided, the offender shall be, upon final conviction, subject to immediate deportation without the necessity of any further proceedings on the part of the Deportation Board."

Section 3

SEC. 3. Section sixteen of said Act is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 16. The sum of two hundred thousand pesos, so much thereof as may be necessary, is authorized to be Appropriated annually out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the provisions of this Act."

Section 4

SEC. 4. Section seventeen of said Act is also amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 17. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. and shall continue in force until December thirty-one, nineteen hundred and fifty-three, unless sooner terminated by proclamation of the President of the Philippines or by concurrent resolution of Congress: Provided, however, That convictions rendered under this Act or under the duly promulgated orders, rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto shall remain valid and enforceable and prosecutions of offenses committed during the effectivity thereof shall continue and shall not be barred until terminated by conviction or acquittal of the accused."

Section 5

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 18, 1952.