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401

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MALACAÑANG
Manila

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, electrical or telephone connection
without previous authority from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the Manila Electric Company or
the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, as the case may be; tampers and/or uses tampered water or
electrical meters or jumpers or other devices whereby water or electricity is stolen; steals or pilfers water and/or
electric meters or water, electric and/or telephone wires; knowingly possesses stolen or pilfered water and/or
electrical meters as well as stolen or pilfered water, electrical and/or telephone wires, 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. If the violation is committed with the connivance or permission of an employee or officer of the Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System, or the Manila Electric Company, or the Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Company, such employee or officer shall, upon conviction, be punished by a penalty one degree lower than prision
correccional in its minimum period and forthwith be dismissed and perpetually disqualified from employment in any
public or private utility or service company.

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

The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation

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