Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8368)
The title of Republic Act No. 8368 is the "Anti-Squatting Law Repeal Act of 1997."
Republic Act No. 8368 repeals Presidential Decree No. 772, which was entitled "Penalizing Squatting and Other Similar Acts."
All pending cases under the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 772 shall be dismissed upon the effectivity of Republic Act No. 8368.
No, the repeal of Presidential Decree No. 772 under Republic Act No. 8368 does not nullify, eliminate, or diminish any provisions of Republic Act No. 7279, particularly Section 27, which concerns sanctions against professional squatters and squatting syndicates.
Republic Act No. 8368 took effect thirty (30) days after its publication in two newspapers of national circulation.
The repeal signifies the removal of the legal penalties previously imposed on squatting under Presidential Decree No. 772, thereby decriminalizing squatting as previously penalized.
Section 4 clarifies that the repeal of PD No. 772 does not affect the enforcement of sanctions provided in Republic Act No. 7279 against professional squatters and squatting syndicates.
Presidential Decree No. 772 penalized squatting and other similar acts related to unauthorized occupation of real property.
Republic Act No. 8368 mainly repeals Presidential Decree No. 772 and mandates the dismissal of pending cases under it, but does not provide new procedures; it also ensures existing laws like RA 7279 remain effective.
While RA 8368 does not define professional squatters, it references Section 27 of Republic Act No. 7279 which contains provisions penalizing professional squatters, who are individuals or groups involved in organized or repeated squatting activities.