Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5282

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2n4 District, Hocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Sports has always been an important part of Philippine culture. Not only
is sports considered an avenue for leisure, but also an opportunity to showcase
and develop skill, talent, and intellect. For some, it has been considered as a
livelihood. It is, therefore, unfortunate that there are people who would take
advantage of it for their own selfish interests.

In 1970s, Philippines sports experienced one of the major game-fixing
controversies when Crispa lost to Mariwasa. This kind of controversy
continues to hound both professional and amateur basketball leagues. In the
late 2000s and early 2010s, several players of the FEU Tamaraws Men's
Basketball Team were accused of being involved with syndicates as one their
prominent players survived a hit from a syndicate.

This year, game-fixing allegations have surfaced again involving a PBA
D-league team during a summer league do-or-die quarterfinal match. Seven
players were sacked. Unfortunately, people behind these alleged game-fixing
have not been caught and prosecuted.

Clearly, sports development and sports itself are gravely affected by
these controversies. Thus, legislation is needed to provide stiffer penalties and
redefine the crime of game-fixing to ensure the sanctity of fair play,
competition, and sportsmanship in Philippine sports.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANGELO COS BARBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5282

sss

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2"! District, locos Norte

AN ACT REDEFINING THE CRIME OF GAME FIXING AND
PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short title. — This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Game
Fixing Law".

SECTION 2. Game-Fixing. — Game Fixing refers to any act or series of
acts committed by any person or persons who maliciously conducts or cause
to be conducted any professional or amateur sports other than on the basis of
honest playing skill or ability of the players or participants.

It shall include any arrangement, agreement, scheme or machinations
wherein the skill or ability of any player or participant in a game, sport, race or
sports competition shall be limited deliberately in order to influence the
process or to produce a predetermined result.

The payment or receipt of money or valuable consideration shall constitute
a prima facie evidence of game-fixing.

SECTION 3. Other Forms of Game-Fixing. — Game-fixing as defined in
Section 2 hereof, shalll likewise include the following acts:

a) Point-shaving refers to any such arrangement, combination, scheme or
agreement by which the skill or ability of any player or participant in a
game, race or sports competition to make points or scores shall be
limited deliberately in order to influence the result thereof in favor of
one or the other team, player or participant

b) Game machination refer to any other fraudulent, deceitful, unfair or
dishonest means, method, manner or practice employed for the
purpose of influencing the result of any game, race or sports contest.


Game-Fixing in any of the forms defined in Sections 2 and 3 of this Act
is hereby declared unlawful.

SECTION 4. Game-Fixing by Syndicate. — Game-fixing is deemed
committed by a syndicate if carried out by a group of three (3) or more
Persons conspiring or confederating with one another to perform acts
specified in Sections 2 and 3 of this Act.

SECTION 5. Proposal, Attempt, and Conspiracy to Commit
Game-Fixing. — A proposal, attempt, or conspiracy to commit game-fixing
shall be punishable with the same penalty prescribed under this Act.

SECTION 6. Covered Sports. — As used in this Act, game-fixing may
only be committed in the following sports:

a) Professional sports shall refer to individual or team sports, games,
contest, bouts, tournament or competitions whereby the participating
athlete is paid sums of money or other forms of compensation as
regular salary or prize for participation, which are licensed, accredited
and recognized by the Games and Amusements Board;

b) Amateur sports shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contests,
bouts, tournaments or competitions, including collegiate leagues
conducted by the public or private schools’ athletic associations,
whereby the participant is engaged largely or entirely without
remuneration: Provided, however, the local government unit
(LGU)-sponsored, sanctioned or organized sports events or
competitions shall not be covered in this Act.

SECTION 7. Penalties. — The following penalties are hereby imposed on
the acts of Game-fixing as herein described:

a) The penalty of imprisonment from three (3) years to six (6) years or a
fine of not less than One Million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more
than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) or both at the discretion of
the court shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of any offense
defined herein;

bd)

The penalty of imprisonment from six (6) years to twelve (12) years ora
fine of not less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more
than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) or both at the discretion of
the court, when the offender is an athlete, promoter, referee, umpire,
judge, coach in the game, race or sports competition, or any other
sports official;

©) The penalty of life imprisonment or a fine not less than Ten million
Pesos (P10,000,000.00) but not more than Fifty million pesos
(P50,000,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court, when the
offender is a member of a syndicate as defined in Section 4 of this Act.


‘The maximum penalty provided shall be imposed upon any person who
pays or receives money or any other valuable consideration in furtherance of
the crime of game-fixing.

Provided, that if the offender is a public officer, whether elected or
appointed, an additional penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding
any public office or employment shall be imposed: Provided further, that if the
violation is committed by a partnership, corporation, association or any
juridical entity, the partner, president, director, manager, trustee, estate
administrator, or officer, who consents to or knowingly tolerates such
violation, shall be held criminally liable as a principal.

Provided finally, that if the offender is an alien, the same penalties shall
be applied and the offender shall be deported only after service of sentence.

SECTION 8. Perpetual Disqualification from Participation in Amateur
and Professional Sports. — The following persons shall be perpetually
disqualified to participate in any capacity in any sports in the country:

a) Those engaged in professional sports if found guilty of game-fixing; and

b) Those engaged in amateur sports if found guilty of game-fixing for the
second time

The Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board,
Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and other
concerned agencies shall be served copies of the decision and order
disqualifying a person from participation in any capacity in any sports in the
country.

SECTION 9. Roles of Government Agencies. — The following agencies
and instrumentalities shall be tasked to do the following in implementing
Section 8 of this

a) Game and Amusements Board shall revoke the license of professional
athletes
and other sports officials;

Db)

Philippine Sports Commission shall remove athletes from the national
team, including coaches and other sports officials, and ban athletes
from participating in any amateur sports competitions locally and
abroad;

C

Department of Education shall ban primary and secondary
student-athletes including coaches and officiating staff, from
participating in Palarong Pambansa and other DepEd-sponsored,
sanctioned or organized sports events or competitions;

d

Philippine Olympic Committee / National Sports Associations shall
remove athletes, coaches and Other sports officials from their
respective rosters;


e) Athletic associations shall disqualify athletes, coaches and other sports
officials from participating in any inter-school athletic programs and
competitions; and

f) Schools shall disqualify athletes, coaches and other sports officials from
representing the school to any sports events.

The concerned agencies shall coordinate and monitor the strict
implementation of accessory penalty provided under Section 8.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act
is held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — The provisions on game-fixing,
point-shaving and game machinations in sports contests under Sections 1 to 4
Of Presidential Decree No. 483, as amended, pertinent provisions of Section 1
of Presidential Decree No. 1602, and all other laws, executive orders,
issuances, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the
provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or repealed accordingly

SECTION 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,