ANTI-CATTLE RUSTLING LAW OF 1974
(P.D. No. 533)

Historical edition and scope: This reproduces the eleven sections of Presidential Decree No. 533 (August 8, 1974); its preamble and signatures are in the Supreme Court E-Library copy. References to the "Provincial Commander" and "Chief of Constabulary" must be read with Republic Act No. 6975, sections 23 and 90, which formed the Philippine National Police from the Constabulary and the Integrated National Police and ended the PC-INP. Transport of animals is also governed by DA Administrative Order No. 5, series of 2019, as amended in 2025. In section 4, the E-Library copy reads "Sections 611 to 534" of the Revised Administrative Code; Lawphil reads "Section 511 to 534."

SECTION 1. Title. — This Decree shall be known as the "Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974."

SEC. 2. Definition of terms. — The following terms shall mean and be understood to be as herein defined:

1. "Large Cattle" as herein used shall include the cow, carabao, horse, mule, ass, or other domesticated member of the bovine family.
2. "Owner/raiser" shall include the herdsman, caretaker, employee or tenant of any firm or entity engaged in the raising of large cattle or other persons in lawful possession of such large cattle.
3. "Cattle rustling" is the taking away by any means, method or scheme, without the consent of the owner/raiser, of any of the above-mentioned animals whether or not for profit or gain, or whether committed with or without violence against or intimidation of any person or force upon things. It includes the killing of large cattle, or taking its meat or hide without the consent of the owner/raiser.

SEC. 3. Duty of owner/raiser to register. — The owner/raiser shall, before the large cattle belonging to him shall attain the age of six months, register the same with the office of the city/municipal treasurer where such large cattle are raised. The city/municipality concerned may impose and collect the fees authorized by existing laws for such registration and the issuance of a certificate of ownership to the owner/raiser.

SEC. 4. Duty of city/municipal treasurers and other concerned public officers and employees. — All public officials and employees concerned with the registration of large cattle are required to observe strict adherence with pertinent provisions of Chapter 22, Section 511 to 534, of the Revised Administrative Code, except insofar as they may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree.

SEC. 5. Permit to buy and sell large cattle. — No person, partnership, association, corporation or entity shall engage in the business of buy and sell of large cattle without first securing a permit for the said purpose from the Provincial Commander of the province where it shall conduct such business and the city/municipal treasurer of the place of residence of such person, partnership, association, corporation or entity. The permit shall only be valid in such province.

SEC. 6. Clearance for shipment of large cattle. — Any person, partnership, association, corporation or entity desiring to ship or transport large cattle, its hides, or meat, from one province to another shall secure a permit for such purpose from the Provincial Commander of the province where the large cattle is registered. Before issuance of the permit herein prescribed, the Provincial Commander shall require the submission of the certificate of ownership as prescribed in Section 3 hereof, a certification from the Provincial Veterinarian to the effect that such large cattle, hides or meat are free from any disease; and such other documents or records as may be necessary. Shipment of large cattle, its hides or meat from one city/municipality to another within the same province may be done upon securing permit from the city/municipal treasurer of the place of origin.

SEC. 7. Presumption of cattle rustling. — Every person having in his possession, control or custody of large cattle shall, upon demand by competent authorities, exhibit the documents prescribed in the preceding sections. Failure to exhibit the required documents shall be prima facie evidence that the large cattle in his possession, control or custody are the fruits of the crime of cattle rustling.

SEC. 8. Penal provisions. — Any person convicted of cattle rustling as herein defined shall, irrespective of the value of the large cattle involved, be punished by prisión mayor in its maximum period to reclusión temporal in its medium period if the offense is committed without violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things. If the offense is committed with violence against or intimidation of persons or force upon things, the penalty of reclusión temporal in its maximum period to reclusión perpetua shall be imposed. If a person is seriously injured or killed as a result or on the occasion of the commission of cattle rustling, the penalty of reclusión perpetua to death shall be imposed.

When the offender is a government official or employee, he shall, in addition to the foregoing penalty, be disqualified from voting or being voted upon in any election/referendum and from holding any public office or employment.

When the offender is an alien, he shall be deported immediately upon the completion of the service of his sentence without further proceedings.

Current penalty qualification: The death wording in the preceding section is historical. Republic Act No. 9346, sections 1–3 prohibits death and substitutes reclusión perpetua when the law uses Revised Penal Code penalty names; section 3 supplies the parole restriction for the persons it covers. The decree or offense itself is not thereby wholly repealed.

SEC. 9. Rules and Regulations to be promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary. — The chief of Constabulary shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Decree.

SEC. 10. Repealing clause. — The provisions of Articles 309 and 310 of Act No. 3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, as amended, pertinent provisions of the Revised Administrative Code, as amended, all laws, decrees, orders, instructions, rules and regulations which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of August, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.