PRESIDENTIAL DECREES No.

401 March 1, 1974

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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.