CHAPTER XIX: PENAL PROVISIONS
Section 101
False Statements
Any person who knowingly presents any false application, declaration, or evidence to the Government or publishes or causes to be published any prospectus or other information containing any false statement relating to mines, mining operations or mineral agreements, financial or technical assistance agreements and permits shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not exceeding Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).
Section 102
Illegal Exploration
Any person undertaking exploration work without the necessary exploration permit shall, upon conviction, be penalized by a fine of not exceeding Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00).
Section 103
Theft of Minerals
Any person extracting minerals and disposing the same without a mining agreement, lease, permit, license, or steals minerals or ores or the products thereof from mines or mills or processing plants shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned from six (6) months to six (6) years or pay a fine from Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the appropriate court. In addition, he shall be liable to pay damages and compensation for the minerals removed, extracted, and disposed of. In the case of associations, partnerships, or corporations, the president and each of the directors thereof shall be responsible for the acts committed by such association, corporation, or partnership.
Section 104
Destruction of Mining Structures
Any person who willfully destroys or damages structures in or on the mining area or on the mill sites shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for a period not to exceed five (5) years and shall, in addition, pay compensation for the damages which may have been caused thereby.
Section 105
Mines Arson
Any person who willfully sets fire to any mineral stockpile, mine or workings, fittings or a mine, shall be guilty of arson and shall be punished, upon conviction, by the appropriate court in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Penal Code and shall, in addition, pay compensation for the damages caused hereby.
Section 106
Willful Damage to a Mine
Any person who willfully damages a mine, unlawfully causes water to run into a mine, or obstructs any shaft or passage to a mine, or renders useless, damages or destroys any machine, appliance, apparatus, rope, chain, tackle, or any other things used in a mine, shall be punished, upon conviction, by the appropriate court, by imprisonment not exceeding a period of five (5) years and shall, in addition, pay compensation for the damages caused thereby.
Section 107
Illegal Obstruction to Permittees or Contractors
Any person who, without justifiable cause, prevents or obstructs the holder of any permit, agreement or lease from undertaking his mining operations shall be punished, upon conviction by the appropriate court, by a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Section 108
Violation of the Terms and Conditions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate
Any person who willfully violates or grossly neglects to abide by the terms and conditions of the environmental compliance certificate issued to said person and which causes environmental damage through pollution shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six (6) months to six (6) years or a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
Section 109
Illegal Obstruction to Government Officials
Any person who illegally prevents or obstructs the Secretary, the Director or any of their representatives in the performance of their duties under the provisions of this Act and of the regulations promulgated hereunder shall be punished upon conviction, by the appropriate court, by a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Section 110
Other Violations
Any other violation of this Act and its implementing rules and regulations shall constitute an offense punishable with a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00).
Section 111
Fines
The Secretary is authorized to charge fines for late or non-submission of reports in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
