Forcible Entry or Occupation of Public Agricultural Lands

June 20, 1953

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 947

AN ACT MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION TO FORCIBLY ENTER OR OCCUPY PUBLIC AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF

SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation or association to enter or occupy, through force, intimidation, threat, strategy or stealth, any public agricultural land including such public lands as are granted to private individuals under the provisions of the Public Land Act or any other laws providing for the disposal of public agricultural lands in the Philippines, and are duly covered by the corresponding applications required for the purpose notwithstanding the fact that title thereto still remains in the Government; or for any person, natural or juridical, to instigate, induce or force another to commit such acts.

SECTION 2. The criminal action for any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be instituted within one year from the time the cause of action arises.

SECTION 3. Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding one thousand pesos or imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. In case of insolvency, the offender shall suffer subsidiary imprisonment to be computed in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Penal Code.

If the offender is a corporation or association, the president, director, manager or managing partner thereof shall be held criminally liable therefor.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 20, 1953

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 49, No. 9, p. 3788 in September 1953