Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 532)
The title of Presidential Decree No. 532 is the Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery Law of 1974.
Philippine Waters refer to all bodies of water such as seas, gulfs, bays around, between and connecting each of the Islands of the Philippine Archipelago, including territorial sea, sea-bed, insular shelves, and other submarine areas over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction, irrespective of their depth, breadth, length or dimension.
Piracy includes any attack upon or seizure of any vessel, or taking away the whole or part of the vessel or its cargo, equipment, or the personal belongings of its complement or passengers, by means of violence or intimidation committed in Philippine waters, including acts by passengers or crew members.
Highway robbery/brigandage is the seizure of any person for ransom, extortion, or other unlawful purposes, or the taking away of another's property by violence, intimidation, or force, committed on any Philippine highway.
The penalty for piracy in such cases is reclusion temporal in its medium and maximum periods.
Piracy is punishable by death if rape, murder or homicide is committed during the act, if victims are abandoned without means of saving themselves, or if the seizure is accomplished by firing upon or boarding a vessel.
The penalty is reclusion temporal in its minimum period.
If physical injuries or other crimes are committed on the occasion of highway robbery or brigandage, the penalty is reclusion temporal in its medium and maximum periods.
The penalty of death shall be imposed if such crimes are committed as a result of or on the occasion of highway robbery or brigandage.
Persons who knowingly aid, protect, give information to, or benefit from pirates or highway robbers are considered accomplices and shall be punished according to the Revised Penal Code. It is presumed the acts were done knowingly unless proven otherwise.