PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES, CODES & ISSUANCES
PHILIPPINE LAWS, STATUTES AND CODES
REPUBLIC ACTS
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 729 - AN ACT TO
AMEND SECTION SIX, TWELVE, SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN OF REPUBLIC ACT
NUMBERED FIVE HUNDRED NINE AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SIX
HUNDRED EIGHT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PRICE CONTROL LAW |
Section 1.
Section six of Republic Act Numbered Five hundred nine as amended by
Republic Act Six hundred eight is amended to read as follows: "Sec. 6. In
order to facilitate the determination of the maximum ceiling price of
any article, goods or commodity, and for the purpose of enforcing the
provisions of this Act, the Price Administration Board and the local
price administration committees shall, directly or through commercial,
agent, the Price Stabilization Corporation, provincial, city and
municipal treasurers, Internal Revenue Agents, Supervisors of the
National Cooperative Administration, and the city and municipal police
forces have the power (a) to examine bills of lading, bills of sale,
invoices, books, records and other pertinent documents owned or in the
possession of any importer, producer, manufacturer, wholesaler or
retailer; and (b) upon the issuance of a search warrant, to inspect
premises, bodegas or storerooms where stocks or articles, goods or
commodities whose prices are controlled, are kept. The Board and the
local price administration committees may, by subpoena or subpoena
duces tecum require any person to appear and testify or to appear and
produce books, records and other documents, or both, and in the case or
contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum
issued to any such person, the municipal court or the justice of the
peace court of the city or municipality in which such importer,
wholesaler, retailer, manufacturer or producer is found or resides or
transacts business, upon application, and after notice to any such
person and hearing, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring
such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce
books, records and other writings, or both, and any failure to obey
such order of the court shall be punished by such court as contempt
thereof. Provided, That for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of
this Act, price control agents shall be considered as peace officers
and as such shall have the following powers:
"(a) To make arrests, searches, and seizures in accordance with existing laws and regulations; (b) to issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum for the appearance at Government expense of any person for investigation; (c) to take and require sworn truthful statements of any person or persons so summoned in relation to cases under investigation, subject to constitutional restrictions; (d) to administer oaths upon cases under investigation." Sec. 2. The first paragraph of section twelve of Republic Act Numbered Five hundred nine as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 12.
Imprisonment for a period of not less than two months nor more than
twelve years or a fine of not less than two hundred pesos nor more than
ten thousand pesos or both, shall be imposed upon any person who sells
any article, goods or commodity in excess of the maximum selling price
fixed by the President; or who hoards or keeps articles, goods or
commodities mentioned in section one hereof or such other merchandise
the price of which has been placed under control in excess of the
quantities reported by him to the Price Administration Board; or who
refuses to sell any merchandise displayed and offered for sale in his
establishment, store or stall, or any merchandise which though not
displayed are in stock; or who having in stock merchandise the price of
which is under control shall transfer the same or make a false or
fictitious sale of all or any portion thereof so as to defeat the
purposes of this Act; or who fails or refuses to file with the said
Board an inventory of his stock and/or to transmit copies of bills of
lading or bills of sale, or who violates any provision of this Act or
any rules and regulations issued by the President pursuant to the
provisions of this Act: Provided, however, That in the case of aliens,
in addition to the penalty herein provided, the offender shall be, upon
final conviction, subject to immediate deportation without the
necessity of any further proceedings on the part of the Deportation
Board."
Sec. 3. Section sixteen of said Act is amended to read as follows: "Section 16.
The sum of two hundred thousand pesos, or so much thereof as may be
necessary, is authorized to be appropriated annually out of any funds
in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the
provisions of this Act."
Sec. 4. Section seventeen of said Act is also amended to read as follows: "Section 17.
This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall continue in
force until December thirty-one, nineteen hundred and fifty-three,
unless sooner terminated by proclamation of the President of the
Philippines or by concurrent resolution of Congress: Provided, however,
That convictions rendered under this Act or under the duly promulgated
orders, rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto shall remain
valid and enforceable and prosecutions of offenses committed during the
effectivity thereof shall continue and shall not be barred until
terminated by conviction or acquittal of the accused."
Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: June 18, 1952 |