Anti-Highway Robbery Law of 1974

1. Concept and legal basis

a. Legal basis

Presidential Decree No. 532 is known as the Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery Law of 1974.

“Philippine Waters” – refer to all bodies of water, such as but not limited to, seas, gulfs, bays around, between and connecting each of the Islands of the Philippine Archipelago, irrespective of its depth, breadth, length or dimension, and all other waters belonging to the Philippines by historic or legal title, including territorial sea, the sea-bed, the insular shelves, and other submarine areas over which the Philippines has sovereignty or jurisdiction. (See Section 2[a], Presidential Decree No. 532)

“Vessel” – refers to any vessel or watercraft used for transport of passengers and cargo from one place to another through Philippine Waters. It shall include all kinds and types of vessels or boats used in fishing. (See Section 2[b], Ibid.)

“Philippine Highway” – refers to any road, street, passage, highway and bridges or other parts thereof, or railway or railroad within the Philippines used by persons, or vehicles, or locomotives or trains for the movement or circulation of persons or transportation of goods, articles, or property or both. (See Section 2[c], Ibid.)

“Piracy” – refers to attack upon or seizure of any vessel, or the taking away of the whole or part thereof or its cargo, equipment, or the personal belongings of its complement or passengers, irrespective of the value thereof, by means of violence against or i...