MALACAANG

Manila
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 523 July 30, 1974
FIXING THE YEARLY MAXIMUM INCREASE OF THE ASSESSED VALUE OF REAL
PROPERTIES FOR A PERIOD OF NOT EXCEEDING FIVE YEARS BEGINNING WITH THE
THIRD QUARTER OF CALENDAR YEAR 1974 AS BASIS FOR COLLECTING THE REAL
PROPERTY TAX, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, the results of the general revision of real property assessments undertaken by
Provincial and City Assessors throughout the country in 1973 pursuant to Presidential Decree No.
76, which took effect on January 1, 1974, showed marked increases in the assessed valuations of
such properties as compared to those subsisting in 1973;
WHEREAS, the consequence of such increases in real property assessments was a concommitant
increase in real property taxes which property owners, especially those belonging to, the low and
middle income groups, find burdensome in the face of the rising costs of living precipitated by
worldwide inflation;
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WHEREAS, confronted with such a dilemma, the taxpayers except the government to adopt
measures which would ease the burden of taxation and thereby alleviate the financial difficulties of
the great majority;
WHEREAS, not unmindful of the situation the financial and economic advisers of the country
consider it imperative to recommend a gradual increase of the real property tax by delimiting the
yearly maximum increase of real property assessment beginning the third quarter of calendar year
1974;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me under the Constitution do hereby decree and order as part of the law of the
land the following;
Section 1. Beginning with calendar year 1974, increases in the assessed valuation of real property
effected pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 76, as amended, shall be gradual from 1974 to 1977
and in no case shall the increase in any year be more than 100% of the assessed valuation of the
same property for the calendar year 1973: Provided, That effective in calendar year 1978, the full
assessed valuation of the said real property as determined by the provincial or city assessor during
the general revision in 1973 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 76 shall be the basis for the
computation of the real property tax due thereon.
Section 2. The real property tax due and payable beginning with the third quarter of calendar year
1974 shall be computed in accordance with Section 1 hereof: Provided, That any overpayment of
real property tax made as a consequence of the adjustment authorized herein shall be applied to
any future tax obligation on the same property of the taxpayer concerned.
Section 3. The Secretary of Finance shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement
this Decree.
Section 4. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-four.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 6235

AN ACT PROHIBITING CERTAIN ACTS INIMICAL TO CIVIL AVIATION, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to compel a change in the course or destination of an
aircraft of Philippine registry, or to seize or usurp the control thereof, while it is in flight. An aircraft is
in flight from the moment all its external doors are closed following embarkation until any of such
doors is opened for disembarkation.
It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to compel an aircraft of foreign registry to land in
Philippine territory or to seize or usurp the control thereof while it is within the said territory.
Section 2. Any person violating any provision of the foregoing section shall be punished by an
imprisonment of not less than twelve years but not more than twenty years, or by a fine of not less
than twenty thousand pesos but not more than forty thousand pesos.
The penalty of imprisonment of fifteen years to death, or a fine of not less than twenty-five thousand
pesos but not more than fifty thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person committing such
violation under any of the following circumstances:
1. Whenever he has fired upon the pilot, member of the crew or passenger of the aircraft;
2. Whenever he has exploded or attempted to explode any bomb or explosive to destroy the
aircraft; or
3. Whenever the crime is accompanied by murder, homicide, serious physical injuries or
rape.
Section 3. It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to ship, load or carry in any
passenger aircraft operating as a public utility within the Philippines, and explosive, flammable,
corrosive or poisonous substance or material.
Section 4. The shipping, loading or carrying of any substance or material mentioned in the
preceding section in any cargo aircraft operating as a public utility within the Philippines shall be in
accordance with regulations issued by the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
Section 5. As used in this Act
(1) "Explosive" shall mean any substance, either solid or liquid, mixture or single compound,
which by chemical reaction liberates heat and gas at high speed and causes tremendous
pressure resulting in explosion. The term shall include but not limited to dynamites,
firecrackers, blasting caps, black powders, bursters, percussions, cartridges and other
explosive materials, except bullets for firearm.

(2) "Flammable" is any substance or material that is highly combustible and self-igniting by
chemical reaction and shall include but not limited to acrolein, allene, aluminum dyethyl
monochloride, and other aluminum compounds, ammonium chlorate and other ammonium
mixtures and other similar substances or materials.
(3) "Corrosive" is any substance or material, either liquid, solid or gaseous, which through
chemical reaction wears away, impairs or consumes any object. It shall include but not
limited to alkaline battery fluid packed with empty storage battery, allyl chloroformate,
allytrichlorosilane, ammonium dinitro-orthocresolate and other similar materials and
substances.
(4) "Poisonous" is any substance or materials, except medicinal drug, either liquid, solid or
gaseous, which through chemical reactions kills, injuries or impairs a living organism or
person, and shall include but not limited to allyl isothiocyanate, ammunition (chemical, nonexplosive but containing Class A, B or poison), aniline oil, arsine, bromobenzyle cyanide,
bromoacetone and other similar substances or materials.
Section 6. Any violation of Section three hereof shall be punishable by an imprisonment of at least
five years but not more than ten years or by a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos but not more
than twenty thousand pesos: Provided, That if the violation is committed by a juridical person, the
penalty shall be imposed upon the manager, representative, director, agent or employee who
violated, or caused, directed, cooperated or participated in the violation thereof: Provided, further,
That in case the violation is committed in the interest of a foreign corporation legally doing business
in the Philippines, the penalty shall be imposed upon its resident agent, manager, representative or
director responsible for such violation and in addition thereto, the license of said corporation to do
business in the Philippines shall be revoked.
Any violation of Section four hereof shall be an offense punishable with the minimum of the penalty
provided in the next preceding paragraph.
Section 7. For any death or injury to persons or damage to property resulting from a violation of
Sections three and four hereof, the person responsible therefor may be held liable in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
Section 8. Aircraft companies which operate as public utilities or operators of aircraft which are for
hire are authorized to open and investigate suspicious packages and cargoes in the presence of the
owner or shipper, or his authorized representatives if present; in order to help the authorities in the
enforcement of the provisions of this Act: Provided, That if the owner, shipper or his representative
refuses to have the same opened and inspected, the airline or air carrier is authorized to refuse the
loading thereof.
Section 9. Every ticket issued to a passenger by the airline or air carrier concerned shall contain
among others the following condition printed thereon: "Holder hereof and his hand-carried
luggage(s) are subject to search for, and seizure of, prohibited materials or substances. Holder
refusing to be searched shall not be allowed to board the aircraft," which shall constitute a part of the
contract between the passenger and the air carrier.
Section 10. The Civil Aeronautics Administration is hereby directed to promulgate within one month
after the approval of this Act such regulations as are provided in Section four hereof and cause the
publication of such rules and regulations in the Official Gazette and in a newspaper of national
circulation for at least once a week for three consecutive weeks. Such regulations shall take effect
fifteen days after publication in the Official Gazette.

Section 11. This Act shall take effect after the publication mentioned in the preceding section.
Approved: June 19, 1971

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 616

AN ACT TO PUNISH ESPIONAGE AND OTHER OFFENSES AGAINST THE NATIONAL SECURITY.
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chanrobles virtual law library
Section 1. Unlawfully obtaining or permitting to be obtained information affecting national defense.
(a) Whoever, for the purpose of obtaining information respecting the national defense with intent or
reason to believe that the information to be obtained is to be used to the injury of the Philippines or of
the United States, or to the advantage of any foreign nation, goes upon, enters, flies over, or otherwise
obtains information concerning any vessel, aircraft, work of defense, navy yard, naval station, submarine
base, coaling station, fort, battery, torpedo, station, dockyard, canal, railroad, arsenal, camp, factory,
mine, telegraph, telephone, wireless, or signal station, building, office, or other place connected with
the national defense, owned or constructed, or in progress of construction by the Philippines or by the
United States or under the control of the Philippines or of the United States, or any of its officers or
agents, or within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Philippines or of the United States, or any place in
which any vessel, aircraft, arms, munitions, or other materials or instruments for the use in time of war
are being made, prepared, repaired, or stored, under any contract or agreement with the Philippines or
the United States, or with any person on behalf of the Philippines or the United States, or any prohibited
place within the meaning of section six hereof; or
(b) Whoever, for the purpose aforesaid, and with like intent or reason to believe, copies, takes, makes,
or obtains, or attempts, or induces or aids another to copy, take, make, or obtain, any sketch,
photograph, photographic negative, blue print, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, document,
writing, or note of anything connected with the national defense; or chanrobles virtual law library
(c) Whoever, for the purpose aforesaid, receives or obtains or agrees or attempts or induces or aids
another to receive or obtain from any person, or from any source whatever, any document, writing,
code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blue print, plan, map, model,
instrument, appliance, or note of anything connected with the national defense, knowing or having
reason to believe, at the time he receives or obtains, or agrees or attempts or induces or aids another to
receive or obtain it, that it has been or will be obtained, taken, made, or disposed of by any person
contrary to the provisions of this Act; or chanrobles virtual law library

(d) Whoever, lawfully or unlawfully having possession of, access to, control over, or being entrusted
with any document, writing, code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blue
print, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or note relating to the national defense, willfully
communicates or transmits or attempts to communicate or transmit the same to any person not
entitled to receive it, or willfully retains the same and fails to deliver it on demand to the officer or
employee of the Philippines or of the United States entitled to receive it; or chanrobles virtual law
library
(e) Whoever, being entrusted with or having lawful possession or control of any document, writing,
code book, signal book, sketch, photograph, photographic negative, blue print, plan, map, model, note
or information, relating to the national defense, through gross negligence permits the same to be
removed from its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of this trust or to be lost,
stolen, abstracted, or destroyed, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten years and
may, in addition thereto, be fined not more than ten thousand pesos. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 2. Unlawful disclosing information affecting national defense. (a) Whoever, with the intent or
reason to believe that it is to be used to the injury of the Philippines or of the United States or to the
advantage of a foreign nation, communicates, delivers, or transmits, or attempts to, or aids or induces
another to, communicate, deliver, or transmit to any foreign government, or any faction or party or
military or naval force within a foreign country, whether recognized or unrecognized by the Philippines
or by the United States, or to any representative, officer, agent, employee, subject, or citizen thereof,
either directly or indirectly, any document, writing code book, signal book, sketch, photograph,
photographic negative, blue print, plan, map, model, instrument, appliance, or information relating to
the national defense, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than twenty years, if the offense
is committed in time of peace, or by death or imprisonment for not more than thirty years, if it is in time
of war.
(b) Whoever, in time of war with intent that the same shall be communicated to the enemy, shall
collect, record, publish, or communicate, or attempt to elicit any information with respect to the
movement, number, description, condition, or disposition of any of the armed forces, ships, aircraft, or
war materials of the Philippines or of the United States, or with respect to the plans or conduct, or
supposed plans or conduct of any military, naval, or air operations, or with respect to any works or
measures undertaken for or connected with, or intended for the fortification or defense of any place, or
any other information relating to the public defense which might be useful to the enemy, shall be
punished by death or by imprisonment for not more than thirty years. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec, 3. Disloyal acts or works in time of peace. It shall be unlawful for any person, with intent to
interfere with, impair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military, naval, or air forces of
the Philippines or of the United States: (a) to advise, counsel, urge, or in any manner cause
insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military, naval, or air forces
of the Philippines or of the United States; or (b) to distribute any written or printed matter which
advises, counsels, or urges insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the
military, naval, or air forces of the Philippines or of the United States. The violation of this section shall

be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten years, or by fine not more than ten thousand pesos,
or both.
Sec. 4. Disloyal acts or words in time of war. Whoever, when the Philippines or the United States is at
war, shall willfully make or convey false reports or false statements with the intent, to interfere with the
operation or success of the military, naval, or air forces of the Philippines or of the United States or to
promote the success of its enemies shall willfully cause or attempt to cause insubordination, disloyalty,
mutiny, or refusal of duty, in the military, naval, or air forces of the Philippines or the United States, or
shall willfully obstruct the recruiting or enlistment service of the Philippines or of the United States to
the injury of the service of the Philippines or of the United States, shall be punished by imprisonment for
not more than twenty years, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand pesos, or both.
Sec. 5. Conspiracy to violate preceding sections. If two or more persons conspire to violate the
provisions of sections one, two, three, or four of this Act, and one or more of such persons does not act
to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to such conspiracy shall be punished as in said
sections provided in the case of the doing of the act the accomplishment of which is the object of such
conspiracy.
Sec. 6. Harboring or concealing violators of the law. Whoever harbors or conceals any person who he
knows, or has reasonable ground to believe or suspect, has committed, or is about to commit, an
offense under this Act, shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten years and may, in
addition thereto, be fined not more than ten thousand pesos.
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Sec. 7. Designation of prohibited places by proclamation. The President of the Philippines in time of
war or in case of national emergency may by proclamation designate any place other than those set
forth in subsection (a) of section one hereof in which anything for the use of the army, navy, or air
forces are being prepared or constructed or stored as a prohibited place for the purpose of this Act:
Provided, That he shall determine that information with respect thereto would be prejudicial to the
national defense. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 8. Photographing, etc., defensive installations regulated. penalties. Whenever, in the interests of
national defense, the President of the Philippines shall define certain vital military, naval, or air
installations or equipment as requiring protection against the general dissemination of information
relative thereto, it shall be unlawful to make any photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical
representation of such vital military, naval, and air installations or equipment without first obtaining
permission of the commanding officer of the military, naval, or air post, camp, or station concerned, or
higher authority and promptly submitting the product obtained to such commanding officer or higher
authority for censorship or such other action as he may deem necessary. Any person found guilty of a
violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of
not more than two thousand pesos, or both.

Sec. 9. Photographing, etc., from aircraft. Any person who uses or permits or procures the use of an
aircraft for the purpose of making a photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical
representation of vital military naval or air installations or equipment, in violation of section eight of this
Act, shall be liable to the penalty therein provided. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 10. Reproducing, publishing, selling, etc., uncensored copies. After the President of the
Philippines shall have defined any vital military, naval, or air installation or equipment as being within
the category contemplated under section eight of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to
reproduce, publish, sell, or give away any photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map or graphical
representation of the vital military, naval, or air installations or equipment so defined, without first
obtaining permission of the commanding officer of the military, naval, or air post, camp, or station
concerned, or higher authority, unless such photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map, or graphical
representation has clearly indicated thereon that it has been censored by the proper military, naval, or
air authority. Any person found guilty of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in
section eight of this Act. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 11. Destroying or injuring or attempting to injure or destroy war material in time of war. When
the Philippines or the United States is at war, whoever, with intent to injure, interfere with, or obstruct
the Philippines or the United States or any associate nation in preparing for or carrying on the war, or
whoever, with reason to believe that his act may injure, interfere with, or obstruct the Philippines or the
United States or any associate nation in preparing for or carrying on the war, shall willfully injure or
destroy, or shall attempt to so injure or destroy, any war material, war premises, or war utilities, as
herein defined, shall be imprisoned not more than thirty years or be fined not more than thirty
thousand pesos, or both. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 12. Making or causing war material to be made in defective manner. When the Philippines or
the United States is at war, whoever, with intent to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the Philippines or
the United States or any associate nation in preparing for or carrying on the war, or whoever, with
reason to believe that his act may injure; interfere with, or obstruct the Philippines or the United States
or any associate nation in preparing for or carrying on the war, shall willfully make or cause to be made
in a defective manner, or attempt to make or cause to be made in a defective manner, any war material,
as herein defined, or any tool, implement, machine, utensil, or receptacle used or employed in making,
producing, manufacturing or repairing any such war material as herein defined, shall be imprisoned not
more than thirty years or be fined not more than thirty thousand pesos, or both. chanrobles virtual law
library
Sec. 13. Injuring or destroying national defense material, premises, or utilities. Whoever, with intent
to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the national defense of the Philippines or the United States shall
willfully injure or destroy, or shall attempt to so injure or destroy, any national defense material,
national defense premises, or national defense utilities, as herein provided, shall be imprisoned not
more than ten years or be fined not more than ten thousand pesos, or both. chanrobles virtual law
library

Sec. 14. Making or causing to be made in a defective manner, or attempting to make or cause to be
made in a defective manner, national defense material. Whoever, with intent to injure, interfere
with, or obstruct the national defense of the Philippines or of the United States, shall willfully make or
cause to be made in a defective manner, or attempt to make or cause to be made in a defective manner,
any national defense material, as herein defined, or any tool, implement, machine, utensil, or receptable
used or employed in making, producing, manufacturing, or repairing any such national defense material,
as herein defined, shall be imprisoned not more than ten years, or fined not more than ten thousand
pesos, or both. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 15. Definition of terms. The term "aircraft" as used in this Act means any contrivance known or
hereafter invented, used, or designed for navigation or flight in the air. The expression "post, camp, or
station" as used in this Act shall be interpreted to include naval vessels, military and naval aircraft, and
any separate military, naval or air command. chanrobles virtual law library
The words "war or national defense material" as used herein shall include arms, armament,
ammunition, livestock, stores of clothing, food, foodstuffs, or fuel; and shall also include supplies,
munitions, and all other articles of whatever description, and any part or ingredient thereof intended
for, adapted to, or suitable for the use of the Philippines or the United States, or any associate nation, in
connection with the conduct of war or national defense. chanrobles virtual law library
The words "war or national defense premises," as used herein, shall include all buildings, grounds,
mines, or other places wherein such war or national defense material is being produced, manufactured,
repaired, stored, mined, extracted, distributed, loaded, unloaded, or transported, together with all
machinery and appliances therein contained; and all ports, arsenals, navy yards, prisons, camps, or other
military, naval, or air stations of the Philippines or the United States or any associate nation. chanrobles
virtual law library
The words "war or national defense utilities," as used herein, shall include all railroads, railways, electric
lines, roads of whatever description, railroad or railway fixture, canal, lock, dam, wharf, pier, dock,
bridge, building, structure, engine, machine, mechanical contrivance, car, vehicle, boat, or aircraft, or
any other means of transportation whatsoever, whereon or whereby such war or national defense
material or any troops of the Philippines or of the United States, or of any associate nation, are being or
may be transported either within the limits of the Philippines or the United States or upon the high seas;
and all dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, water and gas mains, oil or gasoline stations, pipes, structures, and
buildings, whereby or in connection with which water, or gas, or oil, or gasoline, or other fluid is being
furnished, or may be furnished, to any war or national defense premises or to the military naval, or air
forces of the Philippines or the United States or any associate nation, and all electric light and power,
steam or pneumatic power, telephone, and telegraph plants poles, wires, and fixtures and wireless
stations, and the buildings connected with the maintenance and operation thereof used to supply
water, light, heat, gas, oil, gasoline, fluid, power, or facilities of communication to any war or national
defense premises or to the military, naval, or air forces of the Philippines or of the United States, or any
associate nation. chanrobles virtual law library

The words "associate nation," as used in this chapter, shall be deemed to mean any nation at war with
any nation with which the Philippines or the United States is at war.
The words "foreign government," as used in this Act, shall be deemed to include any government,
faction, or body of insurgents within a country with which the Philippines or United States is at peace,
which government faction, or body of insurgents may or may not have been recognized by the
Philippines or the United States as a government. chanrobles virtual law library
Sec. 16. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. chanrobles virtual law library