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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS Ne, we
First Regular Session INDEX ©
HOUSE BILL No. _5953

Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to prohibit the operation of cockpits in places near
schools and other education institutions, churches, and hospitals.

We have declared in the very Preamble of our Constitution that we
are imploring the aid of Almighty God in order to build a just and
humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals
and aspirations. God is not a God of chance but a God of design, of truth,
of purpose, and of assurance. Gambling renders meaningless the State
Policies to: promote a just and dynamic social order to free the people
from poverty through a rising standard of living and an improved quality
of life; protect and strengthen the family; support the natural and primary
duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and
development of moral character; and to promote the moral, spiritual,
intellectual and social well-being of the youth. It runs counter to the
mandate of the State to educational institutions to strengthen ethical and
spiritual values and develop moral character and personal discipline.

We cannot: improve the quality of life; strengthen the family;
develop moral character; promote spiritual, intellectual and social well-
being of our youth; strengthen ethical and spiritual values; and develop


personal discipline, while operating cockpits, near schools and other
education institutions, churches, and hospitals.

Cock-fighting, and other forms of gambling, encourages
wastefulness, thriftlessnes, and a belief that a livelihood may be earned
by means other than honest toil and industry. God has given the
injunction for men to work,

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when he said “Jn the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou
return unto the ground” [Genesis 3:19, KJV] and “If any would not work,
neither should he eat” [11 Thessalonians 3:10, KJV]. Let us heed the
warming that: “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and
considereth not that poverty shall come upon him” [Proverbs 28:22, KJV]
and “the love of money is the root of all evil” [1 Timothy 6:10, KJV].

Gambling, is an evil which undermines the social and economic
growth of the nation, a social menace which dissipates the energy and
resources of the people. It promotes laziness and nurtures a false hope of
advancement by luck rather than hard work. Let as be warned that: “He
that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the
rich shall surely come to want” [Proverbs 22:16, KJV].

Let us accept the reality that gambling does not lift the people from
the quagmire of poverty, but rather pulls them down deeper into slavery
and uselessness. Thus, this Bill seeks to particularly prohibit the
establishment and operation of cockpits near schools and other
educational institutions, churches and other places of worship, and
hospitals.

The immediate passage of this Bill is, earnestly pleaded,

BIENVE! .BANTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5953

Introduced by: Congressman BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.

AN ACT

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
OPERATION OF COCKPITS AND OTHER STRUCTURES OR
FACILITIES FOR HOLDNG COCKFIGHTS NEAR SHCOOLS AND
OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, CHURCH BUILDINGS
AND OTHER PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND HOSPITALS,
PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the “Cockpit
Regulation Law of 2019”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the Policy of the State to
ensure that schools and other educational institutions, church buildings
and other places of worship, as well as hospitals, are free from the
distractions, temptation, and undesirable and unproductive influence of
human activities that are not conducive or runs counter to the
development of spiritual, moral and social well-being and development of
the people, especially the youth. Thus, the State hereby prohibits the
establishment and operation of cockpits and other facilities or structures


used or intended to be used for cockfights, and conducting cockfights, in
areas near schools and other educational institutions, church buildings
and other places of worship, as well as hospitals.

SEC. 3. Definition. — Cockpit shall mean any building, structure or
facility used or intended to be used for cockfights.

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SEC. 4. Punishable Acts. — (a) The following are declared illegal,
prohibited and punishable under this Act when done or conducted within
a radius of five (500) meters from a school or other educational
institution, church buildings or other places of worship, or hospital:

1. Constructing, operating or managing a cockpit or other
building, structure or facility intended to be used for
holding cockfights;

2. Conducting cockfights in any place; and

3. Betting or collecting bets in, or participating in any other
manner in the conduct of, a cockfight in any place.

(b) the following are likewise declared illegal, prohibited and
punishable under this Act:

1. Approving, issuing, or facilitating in any manner the
approval or issuance, of permits to construct, make or
erect, cockpits, or other buildings, structures or
facilities intended for holding cockfights, when such
building, structure or facility to be constructed, made
or erected is within the prohibited place; and

3. Approving, issuing or facilitating in any manner the
approval or issuance, of permits to conduct or hold
cockfights in such cockpits, buildings, structures or
facilities or other places prohibited under this Act.


SEC. 5 Penalties. - Violations of the provisions of this Act shall be
punished as follows:

a. Constructing, operating or managing a cockpit or other building,
facility or structure intended for holding cockfights in violation of this
Act shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than five (5) years
nor more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than five hundred
thousand pesos (Php500,00.00) nor more than One Million Pesos
(Php1,000,000.00), at the discretion of the Court;

b. Conducting cockfights in any place prohibited under this Act
shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than four (4) years nor
more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than four hundred thousand
pesos (Php400,000.00) nor more than six hundred thousand pesos
(Php600,000.00), at the discretion of the Court;

c. Betting or collecting bets in, or participating in any other manner
in the conduct of, a cockfight conducted in any place in violation of this
Act

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shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor
more than five (5) years and a fine of not less than one hundred thousand
pesos (Php100,000.00) nor more than three hundred thousand pesos
(Php300,000.00), at the discretion of the Court;

d. Approving, issuing, or facilitating in any manner the approval
or issuance, of permits to construct, make or erect, cockpits, or other
buildings, structures or facilities intended for holding cockfights, when
such building, structure or facility to be constructed, made or erected is
within the place prohibited under this Act shall be punishable by
imprisonment of not less than four (4) years nor more than six (6) years
and a fine of not less than four hundred thousand pesos (Php400,000.00)
nor more than six hundred thousand pesos (Php600,000.00), at the
discretion of the Court;

e. Approving, issuing, or facilitating in any manner the approval or
issuance of, permits to conduct or hold cockfights in such cockpits,


buildings, structures or facilities or other places prohibited under this Act
shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor
more than five (5) years and a fine of not less than two hundred thousand
pesos (Php200,000.00) nor more than three hundred thousand pesos
(Php300,000.00), at the discretion of the Court;

In case the prohibited act is committed by a corporation, the
president, chairman of the board, and general manager of the corporation
shall be held liable for such act. In the case of a partnership, the managing
partner shall be held liable.

SEC. 6. Liability of Government Employees and Public Officials.
If the prohibited act is committed by a government employee or public
official, he shall, in addition to the penalties provided for in this Act, be
dismissed from his employment and shall be disqualified from re-
employment in any government office. In addition, all his retirement
benefits shall be forfeited in favor of the government.

SEC. 7 — Immunity from Prosecution. — Any person who serves as
a witness for the government or provides evidence in a criminal case
involving any violation of this Act, or who voluntarily or by virtue of a
subpoena testificandum or duces tecum, produces, identifies, or gives
testimony on, the documents subject of or embraced in such subpoena,
shall be immune from criminal prosecution, subject to compliance with
the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1732, otherwise known as
“Decree Providing Immunity from Criminal Prosecution of Government
Witnesses” and the pertinent provisions of the Rules of Court;

SEC. 8. Prosecution, Judgment and Forfeiture. — Any person may
be charged with or convicted of the offenses covered by this Act without
prejudice to his prosecution and punishment for any act or acts penalized
under the Revised penal Code or other existing laws.

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Upon conviction, all buildings or other structures or facilities
constructed or used in violation of this Act, and the proceeds of
cockfights conducted, including all instruments of the crime, real or
personal, shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government
and may be disposed of


SEC. 9. Any person who provides material, competent and relevant
information, whether testimonial or documentary, necessary for the
investigation or successful prosecution of cases committed in violation of
this Act may be placed under the Witness Protection Program pursuant to
Republic Act No. 6981.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DILG, DOJ, NAPOLCOM, and
other concerned government agencies, shall jointly promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations as may be necessary to ensure the
efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If for any reason any section or
provision of this Act, or any portion thereof, or the application of such
section, provision or portion thereof to any person, group or circumstance
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of this
Act shall not be affected by such declaration and shall remain in force
and effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. — The provisions of other laws,
decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved: