PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1744
AMENDING ARTICLE THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY OF
WHEREAS, there have been rampant and wanton burnings of
residential houses, public buildings, markets, hotels and other
WHEREAS, to effectively discourage and deter the commission of
arson, and to prevent destruction of properties and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines by virtue of the power vested in me by the
Sec. 1. Article 320 of the Revised Penal Code shall read as
follows:
"Art. 320. Destructive Arson. — The penalty of
reclusion temporal in its maximum period to death shall be imposed upon any
1. One (1) or more buildings or edifices, consequent to one
single act of burning or as a result of simultaneous burnings, or
committed on several
or different occasions;
2. Any building of public or private ownership, devoted to the
public in general or where people usually gather or congregate
3. Any train or locomotive, ship or vessel, airship or airplane,
devoted to transportation or conveyance, or for public use,
4. Any building, factory, warehouse installation and any
appurtenances thereto, which are devoted to the service of public
5. Any building the burning of which is for the purpose of
concealing or destroying evidence of another violation of law, or
Irrespective of the application of the above enumerated
qualifying circumstances, the penalty of death shall likewise be
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to death
shall also be imposed upon any person who shall burn:
1. Any arsenal, shipyard, storehouse or military powder or
fireworks factory, ordinance, storehouse, archives or general
2. In an inhabited place, any storehouse or factory of
inflammable or explosive materials.
If as a consequence of his commission of any of the acts
penalized under this Article, death or injury results, or any valuable
Sec. 2. Provisions of Articles 320, 321 and 322 of the Revised
Penal Code which are or may be inconsistent herewith are
Sec. 3. Effectivity. — This
Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of November, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.