FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
first Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
With the prevalent use of motor vehicles in everyday life and the increasing 
incidence of carnapping and other motor vehicle related crimes, the need for a more 
effective and efficient system of penalizing and preventing these crimes arises. 
Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Carnapping Act of 
1972, penalizes and prevents carnapping. Part of this law mandates the registration of 
motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis. However, the present law does not 
mandate the registration of number plates as a means of identifying motor vehicles. 
Undoubtedly, the best way to identify and investigate a motor vehicle, especially one that 
has been the subject or object of a crime, is to start with an inquiry on its number plate. 
This bill seeks to update the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 by mandating the inclusion 
of number plates in the registration of motor vehicles for identification and other purposes, 
and replacing the Philippine Constabulary and the Land Transportation Commission to the 
Philippine National Police and Land Transportation Office, respectively. Furthermore, this 
bill proposes that the net proceeds of sales of abandoned motor vehicles be remitted to the 
National Treasury instead of the Philippine National Police to generate additional revenues 
for the government. e 
ICHARD J. GORDON 
J 
&\Senator!$ 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SEN 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon 
AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6539, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
AS THE ANTI-CARNAPPING ACT OF 1972 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as 
the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - The terms "carnapping," "motor 
vehicle," "defacing or tampering with," "repainting," "body-building,'' 
"remodeling," "dismantling," and "overhauling" as used in this Act, shall be 
understood, respectively to mean - 
xxx 
"Defacing or tampering with" a NUMBER PLATE OR serial number is 
the REMOVING, erasing, scratching, altering or changing of the 
IDENTIFICATION OF ANY MOTOR VEHICLE NUMBER PLATE OR original 
factory-inscribed serial number on the motor vehicle engine, engine block or 
chassis of any motor vehicle. Whenever any motor vehicle is found to have a 
serial number on its motor engine, engine block or chassis which is different 
from that which is listed in the records of the Bureau of Customs for motor 
vehicles imported into the Philippines, that motor vehicle shall be considered 
to have a defaced or tampered serial number. 
"Repainting" is changing the color of a motor vehicle by means of 
painting. There is repainting whenever the new color of a motor vehicle is 
different from its color as registered in the Land Transportation [Commission] 
OFFICE. 
xxx 


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Sec. 2. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. Registration of MOTOR VEHICLE, motor vehicle engine, 
engine block and chassis. - [Within one year after the approval of this Act, e] 
Every owner or possessor of [unregistered] A motor vehicle or parts thereof in 
knock down condition shall register with the Land Transportation 
[Commission] OFFICE the MOTOR VEHICLE, motor vehicle engine, engine 
block and chassis, in his name or in the name of the real owner who shall be 
readily available to answer any claim over the registered MOTOR VEHICLE, 
motor vehicle engine, engine block and chassis. [Thereafter, a] All MOTOR 
VEHICLES, motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis not registered 
with the Land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE shall be considered as 
untaxed importation or coming from an illegal source or carnapped, and shall 
be confiscated in favor of the government. 
xxx 
Sec 3. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 4 Permanent Registry of MOTOR VEHICLES, motor vehicle 
engines, engine blocks and chassis. - The Land Transportation [Commission] 
OFFICE shall keep a permanent registry of MOTOR VEHICLES, motor 
vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis of all motor vehicles, specifying 
therein INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO their type, make, [and] serial 
numbers AND NUMBER PLATES and stating therein the names and 
addresses of their present and previous owners. Copies of the registry and of 
all entries made thereon shall be furnished by the Philippine [Constabulary] 
NATIONAL POLICE and all Land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE 
regional, provincial and city branch offices: Provided, that all Land 
Transportation [Commission] OFFICE regional, provincial and city branch 
offices are likewise obliged to furnish copies of all registrations of motor 
vehicles to the main office and to the Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL 
POLICE." 
Sec. 4. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 


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“SEC. 5. Regisfration of sale, transfer, conveyance, substitution or 
replacemenf of a MOTOR VEHICLE, mofor vehicle engine, engine block or 
chassis. - Every sale, transfer, conveyance, substitution or replacement of a 
MOTOR VEHICLE, motor vehicle engine, engine block or chassis or a motor 
vehicle shall be registered with the Land Transportation [Commission] 
OFFICE. Motor vehicles assembled and rebuilt or repaired by replacement 
with motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis not registered with the 
land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE shall not be issued certificates of 
registration and shall be considered as untaxed imported motor vehicles or 
motor vehicles carnapped or proceeding from illegal sources.” 
Sec. 5. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 6. Original Registration of motor vehicles. -Any person seeking 
original registration of a motor vehicle, whether that motor vehicle is newly- 
assembled or rebuilt or acquired from a registered owner, shall within one 
week after the completion of the assembly or rebuilding job or the acquisition 
thereof from the registered owner, apply to the Philippine [Constabulary] 
NATIONAL POLICE for clearance of the motor vehicle for registration with the 
Land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE. The Philippine [Constabulary] 
NATIONAL POLICE shall, upon receipt of the application, verify if the motor 
vehicle or its numbered parts, OR MOTOR VEHICLES USED IN THE 
COMMISSION OF CRIMES. If the motor vehicle or any of its numbered parts 
is not on the list, the Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE shall 
forthwith issue a certificate of clearance. Upon presentation of the certificate 
of clearance from the Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE and after 
verification of the registration of the MOTOR VEHICLE, motor vehicle 
engines, engine blocks and chassis, the Land Transportation [Commission] 
OFFICE shall register the motor vehicle in accordance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations.” 
Sec. 6. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
“SEC. 7. Duty of Collector of Customs to report arrival of imported 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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motor vehicles, efc. - The Collector of Customs of a principal port of entry 


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where an imported motor vehicle, motor vehicle engine, engine block, chassis 
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or body is unloaded, shall within seven (7) days after the arrival of the 
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imported motor vehicle or any of its parts enumerated herein, make a report 
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of the shipment to the Land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE, specifying 
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the make, type and serial numbers, if any, of the MOTOR VEHICLE, motor 
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vehicle engine, engine block and chassis or body, and stating the names and 
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addresses of the owner or consignee thereof. If the MOTOR VEHICLE, motor 
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vehicle engine, engine block and chassis or body does not bear any serial 
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number, the Collector of Customs concerned shall hold the MOTOR 
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VEHICLE, motor vehicle engine, engine block, chassis or body until it is 
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numbered by the Land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE.” 
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Sec. 7. Section.8 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
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Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 8. Duty of importers, distributors and sellers of motor vehicles to 
keep record of stocks. - Any person engaged in the importation, distribution, 
and buying and selling of motor vehicles, motor vehicle engines, engine 
blocks, chassis or body, shall keep a permanent record of his stocks, stating 
therein their type, make, [and] serial numbers AND NUMBER PLATES, and 
the names and addresses of the persons from whom they were acquired and 
the names and addresses of the persons to whom they were sold, and shall 
render an accurate monthly report of his transactions in motor vehicles to the 
Land Transportation [Registration Commission] OFFICE.” 
Sec. 8. Section 9 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 9. Duty of manufacturers of engine blocks, chassis or body to 
cause numbering of engine blocks, chassis or body manufactured. - Any 
person engaged in the manufacture of engine blocks, chassis or body shall 
cause the numbering of every engine block, chassis or body manufactured in 
a convenient and conspicuous part thereof which the Land Transportation 
[Commission] OFFICE may direct for the purpose of uniformity and 
identification of the factory and shall submit to the Land Transportation 
[Commission] OFFICE a monthly report of the manufacture and sale of 
engine blocks, chassis or body.” 


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Sec. 9. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
"SEC. 10. Clearance and permif required for assembly or rebuilding of 
motor vehicles. - Any person who shall undertake to assemble or rebuild or 
cause the assembly or rebuilding of a motor vehicle shall secure a certificate 
of clearance from the Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE: 
Provided, That no such permit shall be issued unless the applicant shall 
present a statement under oath containing the type, make and serial numbers 
of the engine, chassis and body, if any, and the complete list of the spare 
parts of the motor vehicle to be assembled or rebuilt together with the names 
and addresses of the sources thereof. 
In the case of motor vehicle engines to be mounted on motor boats, 
motor bancas and other light water vessels, the applicant shall secure a 
permit from the Philippine Coast Guard, which office shall in turn furnish the 
Land Transportation [Commission] OFFICE the pertinent data concerning the 
motor vehicle engines including their type, make and serial numbers." 
Sec. I O .  Section 11 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 11. Clearance required for shipmenf of motor vehicles, motor 
vehicle engines, engine blocks, chassis or body. - A person who owns or 
operates inter-island shipping or any water transportation with launches, 
boats, vessels or ships shall within seven (7) days submit a report to the 
Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE on all motor vehicle, motor 
vehicle engines, engine blocks, chassis or body to be loaded on board the 
launch, boat, vessel or ship." 
Sec. 11. Sections 12, 12-A and 12-B of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, 
otherwise known as the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 12. Defacing or tampering with NUMBER PLATES OF MOTOR 
VEHICLES OR serial numbers of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and 
chassis. - It shall be unlawful for any person to deface or otherwise tamper 
with the original or registered NUMBER PLATES OF MOTOR VEHICLES 
AND serial numbers of motor vehicle engines, engine blocks and chassis. 


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NO MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A DEFACED OR TAMPERED WJJH 
NUMBER PLATE MAY BE DRIVEN ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. ANY PERSON 
DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A DEFACED OR TAMPERED WITH 
NUMBER PLATE ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS IS DISPUTABLY 
PRESUMED TO HAVE DEFACED OR TAMPERED WITH THE NUMBER 
PLATE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE. 
Sec. 12-A. All carnapped or stolen motor vehicle, recovered and 
impoundED by law enforcement agencies which after a period of three (3) 
months from the date of its seizurelrecovery have remained unclaimed or 
whose real owners could no longer be determined or established because the 
original NUMBER PLATE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE OR SERIAL numbers 
of the motor VEHICLE engine, ENGINE BLOCK AND [or] chassis [numbers! 
could no longer be determined and restored, are considered as abandoned 
motor vehicles and shall be sold and disposed of by the Chief of 
[Constabulary] THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE or his authorized 
representative in a public auction; Provided, That, in all cases before any 
public auction is effected, there shall be published once a week for three (3) 
consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines or 
in the place where it was recovered or found, a description of the vehicles 
intended to be auctioned with a notice that after the lapse of one (1) month 
from the date of the last publication, should no person file a claim for the 
recovery of the same, said motor vehicles will be sold at a public auction: 
Provided, fir?a//y, That the date and place of the public auction to be 
conducted by the Chief of [Constabulary] THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL 
POLICE or his authorized representative shall already be fixed in the last 
publication aforementioned. 
SEC. 12-B. After the public auction, the proceeds shall be applied to 
answer for charges including storage and cost of publication and related 
expenses incurred in connection therewith: Provided, That the remainder, if 
any, shall be [retained by the Philippine Constabulary/ Integrated National 
Police to be used for the operational expenses of the Anti-Carnapping Task 
Force or any such unit as may hereinafter be created for a similar purpose for 


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which the Anti-Carnapping Task Force was created] REMITTED TO THE 
NATIONAL TREASURY." 
Sec. 12. Section 16 of Republic Act No. 6539, as amended, otherwise known as the 
Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Sec. 16. Reward. - Any person who voluntarily gives information 
leading to the recovery of carnapped vehicles and for the conviction of the 
persons charged with carnapping shall be given as reward so much reward 
money as the Philippine [Constabulary] NATIONAL POLICE is authorized to 
include in its annual budget the amount necessary to carry out the purposes 
of this section. Any information given by the informers shall be treated as 
confidential matter." 
Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect. 
Sec. 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,