Back

People vs. Vicente B. Echaves, Jr.

THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, ABUNDIO R. ELLO, as 4th Assistant Provincial Fiscal of Bohol, and VICENTE DE LA SERNA, JR., as complainant and private prosecutor, petitioners, vs. HON. VICENTE B. ECHAVES, JR., as Judge of the Court of First Instance of Bohol, Branch II, ANO DACULLO, GERONIMO OROYAN, MARIO APARICI, RUPERTO CAJES and MODESTO SUELLO, respondents.

G.R. Nos. L-47757-61 | 1980-01-28

D E C I S I O N

AQUINO, J.:

The legal issue in this case is whether Presidential Decree No. 772, which penalizes squatting and similar acts, applies to agricultural lands. The decree (which took effect on August 20, 1975) provides:

"SECTION 1. Any person who, with the use of force, intimidation or threat, or taking advantage of the absence or tolerance of the landowner, succeeds in occupying or possessing the property of the latter against his will for residential, commercial or any other purposes, shall be punished by an imprisonment ranging from six months to one year or a fine of not less than one thousand nor more than five thousand...