Question & AnswerQ&A (BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 876)
Batas Pambansa Blg. 876 includes all authorized water, gas, electric, and telephone utilities within the coverage of Presidential Decree No. 401, as amended.
Batas Pambansa Blg. 876 was enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session.
The prohibited actions include installing any water, gas, electrical or telephone connection without prior authority from the authorized public utility; tampering with or knowingly using tampered water, gas, or electric meters or other devices to steal utilities; stealing water, gas, electric meters, wires, pipes, conduits, and poles; and knowingly possessing stolen utility meters, wires, pipes, and poles.
Upon conviction, the penalty is prision correccional in its minimum period or a fine ranging from PHP 2,000 to PHP 6,000, or both, without prejudice to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1612.
The employee or officer shall, upon conviction, be punished by prision correccional and immediately be perpetually disqualified from employment in any public or private utility or service company.
All laws, orders, rules, and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 876 are repealed or amended accordingly.
Batas Pambansa Blg. 876 took effect upon its approval on June 12, 1985.
The President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, issued the order and decree pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 and General Order No. 1.
Tampering includes altering or manipulating water, gas or electric meters or devices to steal utilities.
Prision correccional refers to a prison term classification in the Philippines with a minimum duration; the law specifies prision correccional in its minimum period as a penalty for offenses under this act.