WHEREAS, it
came to my knowledge that despite the issuance of Letter of
Instructions No. 19 dated October 2, 1972, directing the Secretaries of
National Defense, Public Works and Communications, Social Welfare and
the Director of Public Works, the PHHC General Manager, the
Presidential Assistant on Housing and Rehabilitation Agency, Governors,
City and Municipal Mayors, and City and District Engineers, "to remove
all illegal constructions including buildings on and along esteros and
river banks, those along railroad tracks and those built without
permits on public and private property, "squatting is still a major
problem in urban communities all over the country;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, many persons or entities found to have been unlawfully
occupying public and private lands belong to the affluent class;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREAS, there is a need to further intensity the government's drive
against this illegal and nefarious practice;chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines,
by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby
decree and order:cralaw:red
Section 1. Any person who, with the use of force,
intimidation or threat, or taking advantage of the absence or tolerance
of the landowner, succeeds in occupying or possessing the property of
the latter against his will for residential commercial or any other
purposes, shall be punished by an imprisonment ranging from six months
to one year or a fine of not less than one thousand nor more than five
thousand pesos at the discretion of the court, with subsidiary
imprisonment in case of insolvency.
If the offender is a corporation or association, the maximum penalty of
five years and the fine of five thousand pesos shall be imposed upon
the president, director, manager or managing partners thereof.
Section 2. This decree shall take effect
immediately. chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
Done in the City of Manila,
this 20th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-five.
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