NAPULOT NA PERA O ARI-ARIAN, DAPAT IBALIK SA MAY-ARI

Dear Chief Acosta, Pagkauwi ng anak ko ay nag-abot siya ng sobre na napulot diumano niya sa daan habang siya ay naglalakad pauwi. Binuksan ko ito at nakita ko na may lamang maraming pera. Wala naman sa amin ang nakakaalam kung sino ang may-ari nito, at wala rin naman kaming narinig na may nawawalan ng pera. May kaso ba kapag hindi ko naibalik sa may-ari ang pera na napulot ng anak ko? - Evelyn

- NI DR. PERSIDA V. RUEDA-ACOSTA Chief Public Attorney

Dear Evelyn,

Alinsunod sa ating Revised Penal Code of the Philip-pines, ang kasong Theft ay maaaring isampa sa sinumang nakahanap ng nawawalang ari-arian at hindi ito ibinigay sa lokal na awtoridad o sa may-ari nito. Ang patakarang ito ay nakasaad sa Artikulo 308 ng nasabing batas na nagsasaad na:

"Article 308. Who are liable for theft. - Theft is committed by any person who, with intent to gain but without violence against or intimidation of persons nor force upon things, shall take personal property of another without the latter's consent.

Theft is likewise committed by:

1. Any person who, having found lost property, shall fail to deliver the same to the local authorities or to its owner;

2. Any person who, after having maliciously damaged the property of another, shall remove or make use of the fruits or object of the damage caused by him; and

3. Any person who shall enter an inclosed estate or a field where trespass is forbidden or which belongs to another and without the consent of its owner, shall hunt or fish upon the same or shall gather cereals, or other forest or farm prod-ucts."