Law Summary
Definitions
- Employee or Laborer: Any person employed in an enterprise who handles or has access to materials, spare parts, products, or articles as part of their duties.
- Theft: The unauthorized taking or stealing of materials, spare parts, products, or articles.
Penalties
- Upon conviction, any employee or laborer found guilty of theft shall be punished with imprisonment ranging from prision correccional (minimum penalty) to prision mayor (maximum penalty).
- These penalties are considered heavy relative to typical theft cases to deter such acts in the workplace.
Legal Authority
- Issued under the constitutional powers of the President of the Philippines as Commander-in-Chief.
- Enforced pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 and subsequent General Orders.
Effect on Existing Laws
- Repeals or modifies any laws inconsistent with this Decree unless those laws impose heavier penalties.
Implementation and Effectivity
- The Decree became effective immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
- Legislatively integrated as part of the law of the land upon effectivity.
Important Legal Concepts
- Special penal provision targeting employees and laborers in relation to their work-related access to property.
- Emphasizes the state's commitment to eradicating corruption and promoting social welfare through stricter penalties.
- Reinforces the principle that workplace theft is a serious offense with enhanced consequences compared to ordinary theft.