Press Release
September 17, 2012

Senate seeks to impose stiffer penalties on theft,
destruction of weather forecasting devices

A bill seeking to penalize the unauthorized taking, stealing or tampering of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment was approved on third and final reading.

House Bill No. 5932 was approved with twenty affirmative votes, zero negative vote and zero abstention.

Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said HB 5932 had taken into consideration Senate Bill No. 2955 or the Anti-Pilferage Act of Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment of 2011 authored by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Resolution 343 or the Inquiry: Flood Warning Equipment in the Agno and Tarlac Weather Stations authored by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Senate Bill No. 2638 or the Disaster Warning and Risk Reduction Devices Anti-Theft Act of 2011 filed by former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Enrile said the increasing incidence of the theft, tampering or destruction of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment such as weather forecasting devices, flood monitoring instruments, seismographs, tsunami warning systems and automated weather systems has resulted in millions of lost lives during calamities.

Enrile said the proposed legislation seeks to impose stiffer penalties on violators to minimize or totally prevent the theft and destruction of the said instruments.

Under the proposed measure, any person found guilty of stealing or unauthorized taking, possession, selling or buying of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment will be fined from P1,000,000 to P3,000,000 and/or imprisonment of 12 years to 15 years.

On the other hand, any person found guilty of tampering, dismantling or disassembling of government risk reduction and preparedness equipment will be fined from P500,000 to P1,000,000 and/or imprisonment ranging from six years to 10 years, the bill said.

A fine of P500,000 to P1,000,000 will be imposed on any person found guilty of attempting to commit any of the prohibited acts under HB 5932 and/or imprisonment from six years to eight years while persons found guilty of unlawfully benefiting from the proceeds or fruits of any of the prohibited acts in the measure will be fined from P200,000 to P500,000 and/or imprisonment ranging from two years to seven years, the bill said.

"The penalty for government officers and employees committing such an act is heightened as compared to an act being committed by a private person," Escudero said.

Escudero said any government officer or employee who is guilty of assisting in the commission of any of the prohibited acts under the proposed legislation will suffer the same penalty imposed on private persons.

In addition, he said, they shall be administratively dismissed from the service and all their benefits from the government shall be forfeited. They shall likewise be perpetually disqualified from holding any public office.

Escudero said proper education and information will also be taught to the public so they can appreciate, respect, guard and protect the said equipment. (PILAR MACROHON/PRIB)

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