Pagbebenta ng natirang relief goods para sa mga biktima ng sakuna

DR. PERSIDA V. RUEDA-ACOSTA / MAGTANONG KAY ATTORNEY

Dear Chief Acosta,

Maraming natirang relief goods ang nasa kustodiya ng aking ama na dating kagawad ng barangay. Nais naming malaman kung maaari ba naming ibenta ang mga ito dahil sayang naman kung masisira lang? — Susan

Dear Susan,

Para sa inyong kaalaman, nakasaad sa Section 19 ng Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10121 o mas kilala bilang “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” na:

“Section 19. Prohibited Acts. - Any person, group or corporation who commits any of the following prohibited acts shall be held liable and be subjected to the penalties as prescribed in Section 20 of this Act:

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(e) Selling of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities which are intended for distribution to disaster victims;” (Binigyang-diin)

Ibig sabihin, hindi ninyo maaaring ibenta ang mga relief good na para sa mga biktima ng sakuna. Ang sinumang lalabag dito ay maaaring maparusahan sang-ayon sa Section 20 ng R.A. No. 10121 kung saan nakasaad:

“Section 20. Penal Clause. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other juridical entity that commits any of the prohibited acts provided for in Section 19 of this Act shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall suffer a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000) or any amount not to exceed five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day or more than twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the court, including perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is a public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of herein prohibited acts.”

Nawa ay nasagot namin ang inyong mga katanungan. Nais naming ipaalala sa inyo na ang opinyong ito ay nakabase sa inyong mga naisalaysay sa inyong liham at sa pagkakaintindi namin dito. Maaaring maiba ang opinyon kung mayroong karagdagang impormas­yong ibibigay. Mas ma­inam kung personal ka­yong sasangguni sa abogado.