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P.D.No.1612

TodayisSunday,December13,2015

MALACAANG
Manila
PRESIDENTIALDECREENo.1612
ANTIFENCINGLAWOF1979
WHEREAS, reports from law enforcement agencies reveal that there is rampant robbery and thievery of
governmentandprivateproperties
WHEREAS,suchrobberyandthieveryhavebecomeprofitableonthepartofthelawlesselementsbecauseofthe
existenceofreadybuyers,commonlyknownasfence,ofstolenproperties
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WHEREAS, under existing law, a fence can be prosecuted only as an accessory after the fact and punished
lightly
WHEREAS,isimperativetoimposeheavypenaltiesonpersonswhoprofitbytheeffectsofthecrimesofrobbery
andtheft.
NOW,THEREFORE,I,FERDINANDE.MARCOS,PresidentofthePhilippinesbyvirtueofthepowersvestedin
mebytheConstitution,doherebyorderanddecreeaspartofthelawofthelandthefollowing:
Section1.Title.ThisdecreeshallbeknownastheAntiFencingLaw.
Section2.DefinitionofTerms.Thefollowingtermsshallmeanasfollows:
(a)"Fencing"istheactofanypersonwho,withintenttogainforhimselforforanother,shallbuy,receive,
possess,keep,acquire,conceal,sellordisposeof,orshallbuyandsell,orinanyothermannerdealinany
article,item,objectoranythingofvaluewhichheknows,orshouldbeknowntohim,tohavebeenderived
fromtheproceedsofthecrimeofrobberyortheft.
(b) "Fence" includes any person, firm, association corporation or partnership or other organization
who/whichcommitstheactoffencing.
Section3.Penalties.Anypersonguiltyoffencingshallbepunishedashereunderindicated:
(a) The penalty of prision mayor, if the value of the property involved is more than 12,000 pesos but not
exceeding22,000pesosifthevalueofsuchpropertyexceedsthelattersum,thepenaltyprovidedinthis
paragraphshallbeimposedinitsmaximumperiod,addingoneyearforeachadditional10,000pesosbut
thetotalpenaltywhichmaybeimposedshallnotexceedtwentyyears.Insuchcases,thepenaltyshallbe
termed reclusion temporal and the accessory penalty pertaining thereto provided in the Revised Penal
Codeshallalsobeimposed.
(b) The penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods, if the value of the property
robbedorstolenismorethan6,000pesosbutnotexceeding12,000pesos.
(c) The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods, if the value of the property
involvedismorethan200pesosbutnotexceeding6,000pesos.
(d)Thepenaltyofarrestomayorinitsmediumperiodtoprisioncorreccionalinitsminimumperiod,ifthe
valueofthepropertyinvolvedisover50pesosbutnotexceeding200pesos.
(e)Thepenaltyofarrestomayorinitsmediumperiodifsuchvalueisoverfive(5)pesosbutnotexceeding
50pesos.
(f)Thepenaltyofarrestomayorinitsminimumperiodifsuchvaluedoesnotexceed5pesos.
Section4.LiabilityofOfficialsofJuridicalPersons.Ifthefenceisapartnership,firm,corporationorassociation,
the president or the manager or any officer thereof who knows or should have known the commission of the
offenseshallbeliable.
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Section5.PresumptionofFencing.Merepossessionofanygood,article,item,object,oranythingofvaluewhich
hasbeenthesubjectofrobberyorthieveryshallbeprimafacieevidenceoffencing.
Section 6. Clearance/Permit to Sell/Used Second Hand Articles. For purposes of this Act, all stores,
establishmentsorentitiesdealinginthebuyandsellofanygood,articleitem,objectofanythingofvalueobtained
from an unlicensed dealer or supplier thereof, shall before offering the same for sale to the public, secure the
necessary clearance or permit from the station commander of the Integrated National Police in the town or city
where such store, establishment or entity is located. The Chief of Constabulary/Director General, Integrated
NationalPoliceshallpromulgatesuchrulesandregulationstocarryouttheprovisionsofthissection.Anyperson
who fails to secure the clearance or permit required by this section or who violates any of the provisions of the
rulesandregulationspromulgatedthereundershalluponconvictionbepunishedasafence.
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Section7.RepealingClause.Alllawsorpartsthereof,whichareinconsistentwiththeprovisionsofthisDecree
areherebyrepealedormodifiedaccordingly.
Section8.Effectivity.ThisDecreeshalltakeeffectuponapproval.
DoneintheCityofManila,this2nddayofMarch,intheyearofOurLord,nineteenhundredandseventynine.
RULESANDREGULATIONSTOCARRYOUTTHEPROVISIONSOFSECTION6OFPRESIDENTIALDECREE
NO.1612,KNOWNASTHEANTIFENCINGLAW.
Pursuant to Section 6 of Presidential Decree No. 1612, known as the AntiFencing Law, the following rules and
regulations are hereby promulgated to govern the issuance of clearances/permits to sell used secondhand
articlesobtainedfromanunlicenseddealerorsupplierthereof:
I.DefinitionofTerms
1. "Used secondhand article" shall refer to any goods, article, item, object or anything of value obtained
fromanunlicenseddealerorsupplier,regardlessofwhetherthesamehasactuallyorinfactbeenused.
2."Unlicenseddealer/supplier"shallrefertoanypersons,partnership,firm,corporation,associationorany
otherentityorestablishmentnotlicensedbythegovernmenttoengageinthebusinessofdealinginorof
supplyingthearticlesdefinedintheprecedingparagraph.
3."Store","establishment"or"entity"shallbeconstruedtoincludeanyindividualdealinginthebuyingand
sellingusedsecondhandarticles,asdefinedinparagraphhereof.
4."BuyandSell"refertothetransactionwherebyonepurchasesusedsecondhandarticlesforthepurpose
ofresaletothirdpersons.
5."StationCommander"shallrefertotheStationCommanderoftheIntegratedNationalPolicewithinthe
territoriallimitsofthetownorcitydistrictwherethestore,establishmentorentitydealinginthebuyingand
sellingofusedsecondhandarticlesislocated.
II.DutytoProcureClearanceorPermit
1.Nopersonshallselloroffertoselltothepublicanyusedsecondhandarticleasdefinedhereinwithout
firstsecuringaclearanceorpermitforthepurposefromtheproperStationCommanderoftheIntegrated
NationalPolice.
2.Ifthepersonseekingtheclearanceorpermitisapartnership,firm,corporation,orassociationorgroup
of individuals, the clearance or permit shall be obtained by or in the name of the president, manager or
otherresponsibleofficerinchargethereof.
3. If a store, firm, corporation, partnership, association or other establishment or entity has a branch or
subsidiaryandtheusedsecondhandarticleisacquiredbysuchbranchorsubsidiaryforsaletothepublic,
thesaidbranchorsubsidiaryshallsecuretherequiredclearanceorpermit.
4.Anygoods,article,item,orobjectoranythingofvalueacquiredfromanysourceforwhichnoreceiptor
equivalentdocumentevidencingthelegalityofitsacquisitioncouldbepresentedbythepresentpossessor
or holder thereof, or the covering receipt, or equivalent document, of which is fake, falsified or irregularly
obtained, shall be presumed as having been acquired from an unlicensed dealer or supplier and the
possessororholderthereofmustsecuretherequiredclearanceorpermitbeforethesamecanbesoldor
offeredforsaletothepublic.
III.ProcedureforProcurementofClearancesorPermits
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1. The Station Commanders concerned shall require the owner of a store or the president, manager or
responsible officerincharge of a firm, establishment or other entity located within their respective
jurisdictionsandinpossessionoforhavinginstockusedsecondhandarticlesasdefinedherein,tosubmit
an initial affidavit within thirty (30) days from receipt of notice for the purpose thereof and subsequent
affidavitsonceeveryfifteen(15)dayswithinfive(5)daysaftertheperiodcovered,whichshallcontain:
(a) A complete inventory of such articles acquired daily from whatever source and the names and
addressesofthepersonsfromwhomsucharticleswereacquired.
(b) A full list of articles to be sold or offered for sale as well as the place where the date when the
saleorofferforsaleshallcommence.
(c)Theplacewherethearticlesarepresentlydepositedorkeptinstock.
TheStationCommandermay,athisdiscretionwhenthecircumstancesofeachcasewarrant,requirethat
theaffidavitsubmittedbeaccompaniedbyotherdocumentsshowingproofoflegitimacyoftheacquisition
ofthearticles.
2. A party required to secure a clearance or permit under these rules and regulations shall file an
applicationthereforwiththeStationCommanderconcerned.Theapplicationshallstate:
(a)Thename,addressandotherpertinentcircumstancesofthepersons,incaseofanindividualor,
in the case of a firm, corporation, association, partnership or other entity, the name, address and
otherpertinentcircumstancesofthepresident,managerorofficerincharge.
(b)Thearticletobesoldorofferedforsaletothepublicandthenameandaddressoftheunlicensed
dealerorsupplierfromwhomsucharticlewasacquired.
In support of the application, there shall be attached to it the corresponding receipt or other equivalent
documenttoshowproofofthelegitimacyofacquisitionofthearticle.
3.TheStationCommandershallexaminethedocumentsattachedtotheapplicationandmayrequirethe
presentation of other additional documents, if necessary, to show satisfactory proof of the legitimacy of
acquisitionofthearticle,subjecttothefollowingconditions:
(a) If the legitimacy of acquisition of any article from an unlicensed source cannot be satisfactorily
established by the documents presented, the Station Commander shall, upon approval of the INP
Superintendentinthedistrictandattheexpenseofthepartyseekingtheclearance/permit,causethe
publicationofanoticeinanewspaperofgeneralcirculationfortwo(2)successivedaysenumerating
thereinthearticlesacquiredfromanunlicenseddealerorsupplier,thenamesandaddressesofthe
personsfromwhomtheywereacquiredandshallstatethatsucharticlesaretobesoldorofferedfor
sale to the public at the address of the store, establishment or other entity seeking the
clearance/permit. In places where no newspapers are in general circulation, the party seeking the
clearance or permit shall, instead, post a notice daily for one week on the bulletin board of the
municipalbuildingofthetownwherethestore,firm,establishmentorentityconcernedislocatedor,
inthecaseofanindividual,wherethearticlesinhispossessionaretobesoldorofferedforsale.
(b) If after 15 days, upon expiration of the period of publication or of the notice referred to in the
precedingparagraph,noclaimismadewithrespecttoanyofthearticlesenumeratedinthenotice,
theStationCommandershallissuetheclearanceorpermitsought.
(c)If,beforeexpirationofthesameperiodforpublicationofthenoticeoritsposting,itshallappear
thatanyofthearticlesinquestionisstolenproperty,theStationCommandershallholdthearticlein
restraintasevidenceinanyappropriatecasetobefiled.Articlesheldinrestraintshallbekeptand
disposedofasthecircumstancesofeachcasepermit,takingintoaccountallconsiderationsofright
andjusticeinthecase.Inanycasewhereanyarticleisheldinrestraint,itshallbethedutyofthe
StationCommanderconcernedtoadvise/notifytheCommissiononAuditofthecaseandcomplywith
suchprocedureasmaybeproperunderapplicableexistinglaws,rulesandregulations.
4.TheStationCommanderconcernedshall,withinseventytwo(72)hoursfromreceiptoftheapplication,
actthereonbyeitherissuingtheclearance/permitrequestedordenyingthesame.Denialofanapplication
shallbeinwritingandshallstateinbriefthereason/stherefor.
5. The application, clearance/permit or the denial thereof, including such other documents as may be
pertinentintheimplementationofSection6ofP.D.No.1612shallbeintheformsprescribedinAnnexes
"A","B","C","D",and"E"hereof,whicharemadeintegralpartsoftheserulesandregulations.
6. For the issuance of clearances/permit required under Section 6 of P.D. No. 1612, no fee shall be
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charged.
IV.Appeals
AnypartyaggrievedbytheactiontakenbytheStationCommandermayelevatethedecisiontakeninthecaseto
theproperINPDistrictSuperintendentand,ifheisstilldissatisfiedtherewithmaytakethesameonappealtothe
INPDirector.ThedecisionoftheINPDirectormayalsobeappealedtotheINPDirectorGeneralwhosedecision
maylikewisebeappealedtotheMinisterofNationalDefense.ThedecisionoftheMinisterofNationalDefenseon
the case shall be final. The appeal against the decision taken by a Commander lower than the INP Director
GeneralshouldbefiledtothenexthigherCommanderwithinten(10)daysfromreceiptofnoticeofthedecision.
ThedecisionoftheINPDirectorGeneralshouldbeappealedwithinfifteen(15)daysfromreceiptofnoticeofthe
decision.
V.Penalties
1. Any person who fails to secure the clearance or permit required by Section 6 of P.D. 1612 or who
violatesanyoftheprovisionsoftheserulesandregulationsshalluponconvictionbepunishedasafence.
2. The INP DirectorGeneral shall recommend to the proper authority the cancellation of the business
licenseoftheerringindividual,store,establishmentortheentityconcerned.
3. Articles obtained from unlicensed sources for sale or offered for sale without prior compliance with the
provisionsofSection6ofP.D.No.1612andwiththeserulesandregulationsshallbeheldinrestraintuntil
satisfactoryevidenceorlegitimacyofacquisitionhasbeenestablished.
4.Articlesforwhichnosatisfactoryevidenceoflegitimacyofacquisitionisestablishedandwhicharefound
tobestolenpropertyshalllikewisebeheldunderrestraintandshall,furthermore,besubjecttoconfiscation
asevidenceintheappropriatecasetobefiled.If,uponterminationofthecase,thesameisnotclaimedby
their legitimate owners, the article/s shall be forfeited in favor of the government and made subject to
dispositionasthecircumstanceswarrantinaccordancewithapplicableexistinglaws,rulesandregulations.
TheCommissiononAuditshall,inallcases,benotified.
5. Any personnel of the Integrated National Police found violating the provisions of Section 6 of P.D. No.
1612oranyofitsimplementingrulesandregulationsorwho,inanymannerwhatsoever,conniveswithor
throughhisnegligenceorinactionmakespossiblethecommissionofsuchviolationsbyanypartyrequired
to comply with the law and its implementing rules and regulations, shall be prosecuted criminally without
prejudicetotheimpositionofadministrativepenalties.
VI.VisitorialPower
Itshallbethedutyoftheownerofthestoreorofthepresident,managerorresponsibleofficerinchargeofany
firm,establishmentorotherentityorofanindividualhavinginhispremisesarticlestobesoldorofferedforsale
to the public to allow the Station Commander or his authorized representative to exercise visitorial powers. For
thispurpose,however,thepowertoconductvisitationsshallbeexerciseonlyduringofficeorbusinesshoursand
upon authority in writing from and by the INP Superintendent in the district and for the sole purpose of
determiningwhetherarticlesarekeptinpossessionorstockcontrarytotheintentsofSection6ofP.D.No.1612
andoftheserulesandregulations.
VII. Other Duties Imposed Upon Station Commanders and INP District Superintendent and Directors Following
ActiononApplicationsforClearancesorPermits
1.Attheendofeachmonth,itshallbethedutyoftheStationCommanderconcernedto:
(a)Makeandmaintainafileinhisofficeofallclearances/permitissuedbyhim.
(b) Submit a full report to the INP District Superintendent on the number of applications for
clearances or permits processed by his office, indicating therein the number of clearances/permits
issued and the number of applications denied. The report shall state the reasons for denial of an
applicationandthecorrespondingfollowupactionstakenandshallbeaccompaniedbyaninventory
ofthearticlestobesoldorofferedforsaleinhisjurisdiction.
2.TheINPDistrictSuperintendentshall,onthebasisofthereportssubmittedbytheStationCommander,
inturnsubmitquarterlyreportstotheappropriateINPDirectorcontainingaconsolidationoftheinformation
statedinthereportsofStationCommandersinhisjurisdiction.
3.ReportsfromINPDistrictSuperintendentshallserveasbasisforaconsolidatedreporttobesubmitted
semiannuallybyINPDirectorstotheDirectorGeneral,IntegratedNationalPolice.
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4. In all cases, reports emanating from the different levels of the Integrated National Police shall be
accompaniedwithfullandaccurateinventoriesofthearticlesacquiredfromunlicenseddealersorsuppliers
andproposedtobesoldorofferedforsaleinthejurisdictionscoveredbythereport.
These implementing rules and regulations, having been published in a newspaper of national circulation, shall
takeeffectonJune15,1979.
FORTHECHIEFOFCONSTABULARYDIRECTORGENERAL,INP:
TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

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