QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 247)
The decree prohibits any person from willfully defacing, mutilating, tearing, burning, or destroying, in any manner whatsoever, Central Bank notes and coins.
The law targets acts done 'willfully' and the object is 'currency notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of the Philippines.'
Upon conviction, the offender may be punished by a fine of not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos and/or imprisonment of not more than five years.
It is framed as 'fine of not more than ... and/or by imprisonment of not more than ...,' indicating the court may impose either or both, within the statutory maximums.
It argues that such acts render currency unfit for circulation, shorten its lifetime, reflect poorly on the discipline of the people, and create a bad image for the country.
It renders the notes and coins unfit for circulation, thereby unduly shortening their lifetime.
Yes. It explicitly includes 'partially burning' currency and 'destroying' it by any means.
It provides that all laws, orders and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are modified or repealed accordingly.
It takes effect immediately after publication thereof in a newspaper of general circulation.
The President states the decree is issued by virtue of powers vested by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, Proclamation No. 1104, and General Order No. 1.
The decree states 'it shall be unlawful for any person'—so it covers any person, without limiting it to private individuals.
Since the currency is legal tender guaranteed by the government for public and private debts, damaging it undermines its function as money and public confidence in currency.
Based on the text, yes—if the person willfully burns or destroys Central Bank notes and coins, it fits the prohibited acts, regardless of the stated purpose.
It seeks to prevent loss of functional currency in circulation, preserve the currency’s usable lifetime, and maintain respect and dignity for the nation’s money.