Warning: Deeper hole awaits thieves of manhole covers

You might get a few hundred pesos from selling them in junk shops, but those manhole covers and traffic signs you stole could also land you 20 to 40 years in jail and a penalty of up to P100,000.

Merchants and shops who buy government property meanwhile could be held liable as fences unless they secure a clearance or permit from the Philippine National Police in their area.

Such amended penalties have been proposed in the two House bills filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrellita Suansing, who lamented the “rampant” theft of government property for profit.

House Bill Nos. 5598 and 5599 have proposed amendments to the Revised Penal Code and the antifencing law, to increase penalties for the theft and fencing of government property, such as “railings, manhole covers, signage, sign posts, slabs and the like.”

“Over the years, the theft of government properties has become rampant, especially since many items, such as railroad and sidewalk railings, manhole covers, and signposts and signage are deemed profitable,” Suansing said in her explanatory note.

Such installations were placed in their respective locations because “the government trusts that the public will take care of them as they are intended to serve public interest and welfare,” the Nueva Ecija representative added.

Under HB 5598, the penalties for qualified theft under Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code shall be prision correccional, in its medium and maximum periods (up to six years), and a fine of not less than P25,000.00 but not exceeding P100,000.00, “if the property stolen be the property of the government of the Philippines.”

Escalating prison terms

On the other hand, under HB 5599, the author proposes to amend Section 3 of Presidential Decree No. 1612, and to impose escalating prison terms, depending on the value of the stolen government property.

If the value is more than P100,000, the penalty proposed is reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years in jail. If the value is more than P50,000.00 but not exceeding P100,000,00, the penalty would be reclusion temporal, in its minimum and maximum periods, that is, from 12 to 20 years in jail.

For stolen government properly valued as less than P50,000, the proposed penalty is prison mayor in its minimum and maximum periods, or from 6 to 12 years in jail.

Junk shops and merchants who buy and sell any item or property owned by the government will also be punished as a fence, unless they secure under Section 6 of HB 5599, “the necessary clearance or permit from the (station commander of the Integrated National Police), Chief of the Philippine National Police in the town or city where such store, establishment or entity or government property is located.”

The two measures are pending in the House committee on revision of laws.