Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 6539)
The official title is the 'Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972.'
Carnapping is defined as the taking, with intent to gain, of a motor vehicle belonging to another without the latter's consent, or by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or by using force upon things.
Excluded are road rollers, trolley cars, street-sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, fork-lifts, amphibian trucks, cranes if not used on public highways, rail-only vehicles, tractors, trailers and traction engines used exclusively for agricultural purposes.
It is the erasing, scratching, altering or changing of the original factory-inscribed serial number on the motor vehicle engine, engine block or chassis, or possessing a motor vehicle with serial numbers different from those listed in the records of the Bureau of Customs.
Owners or possessors must register their motor vehicle engines, engine blocks, and chassis within one year after the law’s approval with the Land Transportation Commission, or those parts will be considered untaxed importations or illegal and subject to confiscation.
Violators shall be punished with imprisonment for not less than two years nor more than six years, and a fine equal to the acquisition cost of the motor vehicle or parts involved.
Penalties range from imprisonment of not less than fourteen years and eight months to not more than seventeen years and four months.
Imprisonment for not less than seventeen years and four months and not more than thirty years is imposed.
The penalty is life imprisonment to death.
They must verify if a vehicle or its parts are listed as carnapped or stolen, issue certificates of clearance if not, and keep informed about shipments and assembly clearances related to motor vehicles.
They must keep permanent records of their stocks with type, make, serial numbers, source and buyer details, and report monthly their transactions to the Land Transportation Commission.
Every such transaction must be registered with the Land Transportation Commission.
They will not be issued certificates of registration and will be considered untaxed, carnapped, or coming from illegal sources.
In addition to imprisonment and fines, the official shall be dismissed with prejudice to reinstatement and disqualified from voting, running for election or holding public office.
They must first secure a certificate of clearance from the Philippine Constabulary and provide a sworn statement detailing the type, make, serial numbers, and source of parts.