MALACAÑANG

M a n i l a

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 401 March 1, 1974

PENALIZING THE UNAUTHORIZED INSTALLATION OF WATER, ELECTRICAL OR TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS, THE USE OF TAMPERED WATER OR ELECTRICAL METERS, AND OTHER ACTS

WHEREAS, a paramount objective of Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, is to bring about the formation of a New Society infused with a profound sense of discipline and order;

WHEREAS, the foregoing objective is being thwarted by rampant illegal installation of water, electrical and telephone connection, use of tampered water and electrical meters, jumpers and other devices to steal water or electricity, at times with the connivance of some employees and/or officers of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the Manila Electric Company or the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, as the case may be, and the pilferage of water and electric meters as well as water, electric and telephone meters; and

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for putting an end to these illegal activities because they not only run counter to the aforementioned objective of Proclamation No. 1081 but also prejudice the economic well-being of both the companies concerned and the consuming public;

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, and General Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree that any person who installs any water, gas, or telephone connection without previous authority from any authorized public utility, or service entity concerned, whether government or privately owned, as the case may be; tampers and/or knowingly uses tampered water, or gas meters or other devices whereby water, or gas is stolen; steals water, gas or water, gas and/or telephone wires, piped gas pipes or conduits and poles; knowingly possesses stolen water and/or gas meters as well as stolen water and gas poles; shall, upon conviction, be punished by prision correccional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from two thousand to six thousand pesos, or both, without prejudice to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1612. If the violation is committed with the connivance or permission of an employee or officer of the utility or service entity concerned, such employee or officer, shall, upon conviction, be punished by prision correccional and forthwith be perpetually disqualified from employment in any public or private utility or service company. (as amended by BP Blg 876)

Done in the City of Manila, this 1st day of March in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

Note:

Section 16. R.A. 7832. Repealing Clauses. - The provisions in Presidential Decree No. 401, as amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 876, penalizing the unauthorized installation of electrical connections, tampering and/or knowing use of tampered electrical meters or other devices, and the theft of electricity are hereby expressly repealed. All other laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.