House OKs bill penalizing theft of disaster equipment

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to penalize the theft of government disaster preparedness and other similar equipment.

House Bill 5932 that Agham party Rep. Angelo Palmones has principally authored would make unlawful for any person to posses, sell or buy stolen government equipment or devices that gather, store, or archive or monitor meteorological and seismological data and information which are analyzed and used to warn the public about weather conditions, earthquakes, volcanic or tsunami activities and similar natural calamities.

Violators would be penalized with imprisonment of not less than 12 years but not more than 15 years or a fine of not less than P1 million but not more than P3 million or both, at the discretion of the court.

The penalty of imprisonment of not less than six years but not more than 10 years or a fine of not less than P500,000 but not more than P1,000,000 or both at the discretion of the court would be imposed upon any person found guilty of unauthorized tampering, dismantling or disassembling of such equipment and devices.