Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO 
______________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This is a refiled bill from the 17th Congress and 16th Congress version of former 
Representative Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo and from the 15th Congress version of the late 
Representative Pedro P. Romualdo. 
The Explanatory Note of House Bill No. 3515 of former Representative Xavier Jesus D. 
Romualdo is hereby adapted to form part of the explanatory note for this bill and the 
purpose for refiling this bill: 
“Illegal gambling is a universally recognized social ill that is known to result 
in the squandering of income and the disintegration of families, lead to the 
commission of crimes, and is a source of corruption. Hence, the State 
condemns and criminalizes illegal gambling activities. However, despite the 
campaign against illegal gambling, it continues to subsist and remain 
prevalent in the country. 
The suppression of illegal gambling will require a comprehensive approach 
from and the joint efforts of both the government and the public. In the 
meantime, Congress should adopt more stringent measures against illegal 
gambling as part of its contribution to the campaign against the same. This 
proposed measure is a step in that direction as it seeks to increase the 
penalties against those who engage in illegal gambling activities. The 
imposition of heavier penalties will show the seriousness with which 
Congress views the problem of illegal gambling and is in fulfillment of 
Congress’s responsibility of ensuring that laws of the land are able to meet 
and respond to the challenges of the present times”. 
January 30, 2023
11:55 am
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It is high time that Congress revisit the provisions of Presidential Decree No.1602 and 
provide stiffer penalties to curb illegal gambling and mitigate the effects of this addicting 
vice and protect the foundation of society, the Family.  
The favorable support of the Members of Congress for the prompt and timely passage of 
this measure is earnestly sought.” 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 1 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1602, PRESCRIBING 
STIFFER PENALTIES ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING 
Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1602 is hereby amended, as 
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follows: 
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Section. 1 Penalties. The following penalties are hereby imposed: 
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(a) The penalty of prision correccional in its [medium] MAXIMUM period [or]
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AND a fine ranging from FIFTY THOUSAND [P50,000.00] TO ONE HUNDRED 
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THOUSAND (P100,000.00) PESOS, and in cases of recidivism, the penalty of prision 
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mayor in its (medium) MAXIMUM period [or] AND a fine ranging from [five thousand 
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to ten thousand] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (P100,000.00) TO ONE HUNDRED 
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FIFTY THOUSAND (P150,000.00) PESOS shall be imposed upon.  
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(1) XXX 
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(2) Any person who shall knowingly permit any form of gambling referred to in the 
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preceding sub-paragraph to be carried on in an inhabited or uninhabited place or in any 
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building, vessel or other means of transportation owned or controlled by him. If the place 
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where gambling is carried on has a reputation of a gambling place or that prohibited 
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gambling is frequently carried on therein, or the place is or government building or 
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barangay hall, the malefactor shall be punished by [prision correccional] PRISION 
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MAYOR in it [maximum] MINIMUM period and the fine of [six thousand] ONE HUNDRED 
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FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P150,000.00). 
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(b) The penalty of [prision correccional in its maximum] PRISION MAYOR IN ITS 
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MEDIUM period [or] AND a fine of [six thousand] TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
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(P200,000.00) shall be imposed upon the maintainer or conductor of the above gambling 
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schemes. 
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(c) The penalty of prision mayor in its [medium] MAXIMUM period with [temporary] 
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PERPETUAL absolute disqualification [or] AND a fined of [six thousand] TWO HUNDRED 
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FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00) shall be imposed if the maintainer, conductor 
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or banker of said gambling schemes is a government official, or where such government 
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official is a player, promoter, referee, umpire, judge or coach in case of game-fixing, point-
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shaving and machination. 
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(d) The penalty of prision correccional in its (medium) MAXIMUM period [or] AND a fine 
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ranging from [four hundred to two thousand] TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) 
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TO FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person who 
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shall, knowingly and without lawful purpose in any hour or any day, possess any lottery 
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list, paper pertaining to or in any manner used in the games of jueteng, jai alai or horse 
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racing, bookings, and similar games of lotteries and numbers which have taken place or 
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about to take place.  
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(e) The penalty of [temporary] PERMANENT absolute disqualification shall be imposed 
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upon any barangay official who with knowledge of existence of a gambling house or place 
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in his jurisdiction fails to abate the same or take action in connection herewith. 
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(f) The penalty of prision [correccional] MAYOR in its [maximum] MINIMUM period [or] 
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AND a fine ranging from [five hundred pesos to thousand pesos] TWENTY THOUSAND 
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PESOS (P20,000.00) TO FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) shall be imposed 
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upon any security, security guard, watchman, private or house detective of hotels, 
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villages, buildings, enclosures, and the like which have the reputation of a gambling place 
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or where gambling activities are being held. 
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SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, rules and regulations, 
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and other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
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are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
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Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,   
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