Section 9
SEC. 9. Imprisonment for a period of not less than two years nor more than ten years and/or a fine of not less than two thousand pesos nor more than ten thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person who, during the effectivity of the Executive Order establishing control over the price of commodities: sells at retail or wholesale any commodity in excess of the maximum prices established by the President of the Philippines under Section 2(1) hereof; purchases any commodity in excess of the maximum prices as provided for in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless he makes a denunciation of the act to the proper authorities within seven (7) days or unless it can be shown by satisfactory proof that the purchase was done under circumstances of compelling necessity, or in good faith; refuses to sell any commodity under price control which he keeps either as an importer, manufacturer or producer, wholesaler or retailer in his establishment, store or stall, whether displayed or not; 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 purpose of this Act; fails or refuses to file with the Agency or Board of its duly authorized representative, or inventory of his stock and/or to transmit bills of lading or bills of sale; or violates any provision of this Act or any order, rule or regulation issued 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, upon conviction, be subject to immediate deportation without the necessity of any further proceedings on the part of the Deportation Board: Provided, further, That if the offender is a naturalized Filipino citizen, in addition to the penalty hereinabove provided, his naturalization certificate shall be cancelled. In the case of corporations, partnerships or associations, the president, managing director or manager shall be held liable under this Section. In addition to the penalties prescribed above, the persons, corporations, partnerships or associations found guilty of any violation of this Act or of any order, rules or regulations issued pursuant to its provisions shall be barred from the wholesale and retail business for a period of five years for the first offense, and shall be permanently barred for the second offense; and in the case of importers, as additional penalty, they shall be placed on the blacklist of the Central Bank and their import license shall immediately be revoked. In case the violations is committed by, or in the interest of a foreign juridical person duly licensed to engage in business in the Philippines, such license to engage in business in the Philippines shall immediately be revoked. Any government officer or employee, who, by neglect or connivance, has enabled an importer, wholesaler, retailer or any person who has the above described commodities in his control or possession, to hide or transfer his stock, or has in any manner aided or abetted in the violation or circumvention of the provisions of this Act, shall be held criminally liable as co-principal under this section and shall, in addition, suffer the penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification to hold public office. Any government officer or employee who shall use the powers vested upon him by this law or by rules and regulations pursuant thereto, to obtain money, benefit or anything of value, or being duly authorized by the Agency or Board to act as its agent, shall divulge to any person, or make known in any other manner than may be authorized by law, any information regarding the income, method of operation or other confidential information regarding the business of any person, association or corporation, knowledge of which was acquired by him in the course of the discharge of his official duties, shall be punished by both a fine of not less than five hundred pesos nor more than five thousand pesos and imprisonment of not less than two years nor more than five years. The failure or refusal on the part of the seller of any commodity to issue the corresponding serially-numbered receipt or invoice required to be issued to the purchaser under existing law, rules or regulations, shall be prima facie evidence that the commodity was sold in excess of the authorized maximum selling price.