FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
iO 
SEN~Ul 
S. No. 
.l~13 
Introduced by Srnator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The proposed measure seeks to protect the general welfare through a more pragmatic 
penal regulation against gambling, which is certainly inimical to public interest. As it is a 
declared policy of the State to discourage and prohibit forms of gambling not regulated or 
sanctioned under existing laws, there is a need to review and amend the same in order to 
efficiently and effectively cany out the people's crusade against illegal gambling. 
Law enforcement against illegal gambling will continue to be ineffective unless the laws 
provide stiffer penalties for violations thereof, which this bill seeks to provide. l 
hv,-- 4. ~ . 
.4.v-. . ~y:t:OJd 
/I.#' ,MIRIAM DEF~NSOR s~m~o 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1913 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
,n 
I) ,; . \") 
~\ .f '-
2 
RATIONALIZING THE LAW AGAINST GAMBLING ANDIOR BETTING BY PROVIDING 
3 
STIFFER PENALTIES, FORFEITURE AND CONFISCATION PROVISIONS AND 
4 
ESTABLISHING A PRIMA FACIE PRESUMPTION FOR VIOLATIONS THEREFOR, 
5 
AMENDING FOR THESE PURPOSES PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1602. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1602 is hereby amended to read as 
7 
follows: 
8 
"Section 1. Penalties. - The following penalties are hereby imposed: 
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(a) The penalty of PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MEDIUM PERIOD OR A 
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FINE RANGING FROM TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,000.00) TO 
11 
FORTY THOUSAND PESOS (P40,000.00), OR BOTH [prision correcional in 
12 
its medium period or a fine ranging from one thousand pesos (Pl,OOO.OO) to six 
13 
thousand pesos (P6,OOO.OO), and in case of recidivism, the penalty of PRISION 
14 
MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD OR A FINE RANGING FROM THIRTY 
15 
THOUSAND 
PESOS 
(P30,OOO.OO) 
TO 
SIXTY 
THOUSAND 
PESOS 
16 
(P60,OOO.00) OR BOTH [prision mayor in its medium period or a fine ranging 
17 
from FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO.OO) to TEN THOUSAND PESOS 
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(10,000.00), shall be imposed upon: 
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(1) Any person other than those referred to in the succeeding subsections 
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who in any manner, shaH directly or indirectly take part in any illegal or 
21 
unauthorized activities or games of cockfighting, jueteng, jaialai, or horse racing 
·22 
to include bookie operation and game-fixing, numbers, bingo, and other forms 
23 
lotteries, cara y cruz, pompiang and the like 7-1 I and any game using dice, 
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1 
blackjack, lucky nme, poker and its derivatives, monte, baccarat, cuujo 
2 
pagnnguinge and other card games; pailc que, high and low, mahjong, domino 
3 
and other games using plastic tiles and the likes; slot machines, roulette, pinball, 
4 
and other mechanical contraptions and devices; dog racing, boat racing, car racing 
5 
and other forms of individual or team contest to include game fixing, point 
6 
shaving and other machinations; banking or percentages game or scheme, whether 
7 
upon chance or skill, wherein wagers consisting of money, articles of value Of 
8 
representative of value are at stake or made. 
9 
(2) Any person shall knowingly permit any form of gambling referred to 
10 
in the preceding subparagraph to be carried on in an inhabited or uninhabited 
11 
place or in any building, vessel, or other means of transportation owned or 
12 
controlled by him: PROVIDED, that iflIt] the place where gambling is carried on 
13 
has a reputation of a gambling place or that prohibited gambling is frequently 
14 
carried on therein, or the place is a public or government building or barangay 
15 
hall, the malefactor shall be punished by PRISION MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM 
16 
PERIOD OR A FINE RANGING FROM THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS 
17 
(P30,OOO.OO) TO FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PSO,OOO.OO), OR BOTH 
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Iprision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of SIXTY THOUSAND 
19 
PESOS (P60,OOO.OO). 
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(3) Any person who permits or allows his name to be used for illegal 
21 
gambling or who uses or permits himself to be used as a dummy in connection 
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with illegal gambling. 
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(b) The penalty ofPRISION MAYOR IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD OR 
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FINE RANGING FROM THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30,OOO.OO) TO 
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SIXTY THOUSAND PESOS (P60,OOO.OO), OR BOTH ; PROVIDED, THAT 
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THE PENALTY OF RECLUSION TEMPORAL AND A FINE RANGING 
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FROM FORTY THOUSAND PESOS (P40,OOO.OO) TO SIXTY THOUSAND 
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PESOS (P60,OOO.OO) SHALL BE IMPOSED UPON A MAINTAINER OR 
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1 
CONDUCTOR WHO OPERATES THREE OR MORE GAMBLING OR 
2 
BETTING JOINTS, DENS, OR HOUSES OR WHEN THE GAMBLING OR 
3 
BETTING OPERATION IS OF A LARGE SCALE, SUCH AS WHEN IT 
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COVERS A CITY, MUNICIPALITY, OR BARANGAY; 
5 
THE 
PROPERTY 
DERIVED 
BY 
THE 
MAINTAINER 
OR 
6 
CONDUCTOR, WHO OPERATES THREE OR MORE GAMBLING OR 
7 
BETTING JOINTS, DENS OR HOUSES, OR WHO OPERATES ON A LARGE 
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SCALE, FROM ILLEGAL GAMBLING OR BETTING SHALL BE 
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FORFEITED AND/OR CONFISCATED IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNMENT. 
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THE BURDEN OF PROVING THE COMMISSION OF CRIMES COVERED 
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UNDER THIS SUBSECTION: ONCE THE PROSECUTION PROVES THAT 
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THE PROPERTIES OWNED, HELD OR ACCUMULATED BY THE 
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ACCUSED, IN HIS OWN NAME OR IN THOSE OF OTHER PERSONS, IS 
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MANIFESTLY OUT OF PROPORTION TO HIS LAWFUL INCOME, IT 
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SHALL DEVOLVE UPON THE ACCUSED TO SHOW THAT SUCH 
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PROPERTIES WERE ACQUIRED BY LAWFUL MEANS; PROVIDED, THAT 
17 
ANY PROPERTY WHICHHE DID NOT PROVE AS AMONG THOSE HE 
18 
ACQUIRED BY LEGAL MEANS SHALL BE PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN 
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ACQUIRED ILLEGALLY; 
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UPON THE FILIFNG OF THE CRIMNAL CASE, THE COURT SHALL 
21 
SCHEDULE 
A HEARING FOR THE 
DETERMINATION 
OF 
THE 
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PROPERTIES MENTIONED 'HEREIN WHICH MAY BE CONFISCATED 
23 
AND FORFEITED. DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE CASE, NO 
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PROPERTY, OR INCOME DERIVED THEREFROM, WHICH MAY BE 
25 
CONFISCATED AND FORFEITED, MAY BE DISPOSED, ALIENATED, OR 
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TRANSFERRED AND THE SAME SHALL BE IN CUSTODIA LEGIS AND 
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NO BOND BE ADMITTED FOR THE RELEASE OF THE SAME. THE 
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PROCEEDS OF ANY SALE OR DISPOSITION OF ANY PROPERTY OR 
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MONEY CONFISCATED OR FORFEITED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION 
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1 
SHALL BE USED TO PAY ALL PROPER EXPENSES OF SEIZURE, 
2 
CUSTODY 
AND 
MAINTENANCE 
OF 
PROPERTY 
PENDING 
ITS 
3 
DISPOSITION, ADVERTISING, PUBLICATION, AND COURT COSTS; 
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(c) The penalty of PRISION M YOR IN ITS MAXIMUM PERIOD OR A 
5 
FINE RANGING FROM FORTY THOUSAND PESOS (P40,OOO.OO) TO SIXTY 
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THOUSAND PESOS (P60,OOO.OO), OR BOTH, prision mayor in its medium 
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period with temporary absolute disqualification or fine of SIX THOUSAND 
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PESOS(P6,OOO.OO) shall be imposed if the maintainer, conductor or banker of 
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said gambling schemes is a government official, or where such government 
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official is the player, promoter, referee, umpire, judge, or coach in case of game 
11 
fixing, point shaving and machination; 
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(d) The penalty of prision correccional in its medium period or a fine 
13 
ranging from FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO.OO) TO TEN THOUSAND 
14 
PESOS (PIO,OOO.OO), OR BOTH [four hundred pesos (P400.00) to TWO 
15 
THOUSAND PESOS (P2,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any person who shall 
15 
knowingly and without lawful purpose in any hour of any day, possess any lottery 
17 
list, paper, of other matter cOl1taining letters, figures, signs or symbols AND 
18 
OTHER GAMBLING PARAPHERNALIA pertaining to or in any manner used 
19 
in the same games jueteng, jai-alai or horse racing bookies, and similar games of 
20 
lotteries and numbers which have taken place or about to take place: PROVIDED, 
21 
THAT POSSESSION OF SAID ARTICLES OR PARAPHERNALIA SHALL 
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BE 
PRIMA 
FACIE 
EVIDENCE 
OF 
THE 
VIOLATION 
OF 
THIS 
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SUBSECTION: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT SUCH ARTICLES FOUND IN 
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HIS POSSESSION SHALL BE SEIZED AND CONFISCATED IN FAVOR OF 
25 
THE GOVERNMENT; 
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(e) The penalty of PERPETUAL [temporal] absolute disqualification shall 
27 
be imposed upon any PUBLIC [barangay] official who, with knowledge of the 
4 


1 
existence of a gambling house of place in his jUrisdiction, fails to abate the same 
2 
action in connection therewith; 
3 
(f) The penalty of prisio,! correccional in its maximum period or a fine 
4 
ranging from FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO.OO) TO TEN THOUSAND 
5 
PESOS (PIO,OOO.OO), OR BOTH, [FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (P500.00) to TWO 
6 
THOUSAND PESOS (P2,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any security officer, 
7 
security guard, watchman, private or house detective of hotels, villages, building, 
8 
enclosure and the like which hllve the reputation of a gambling place or where 
9 
gambling activities are being held; and 
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(g) ANY PERSON WHO USES DILATORY TACTICS TO HINDER, 
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OBSTRUCT OR IMPEDE THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF AN 
12 
OPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND/OR BETTING BY 
13 
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENIES OR BY ANY OTHER AGENCY OF 
14 
GOVERNMENT 
OR OTHERWISE EXTENDS 
PROTECTION TO 
A 
15 
MAINTAINER CONDUCTOR, BAKER OR ANY 
OTHER PERSON 
16 
OTHERWISE INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND/OR BETTING 
17 
SHALL BE PENALIZED WITH PRISION CORRECIONAL IN ITS 
18 
MAXIMUM PERIOD OR A FINE RANGING FROM TEN THOUSAND 
19 
PESOS (PIO,OOO.OO) TO TWEN;r'Y THOUSAND PESOS (P20,OOO.OO), OR 
20 
BOTH." 
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SECTION 2. Informer's Reward. - Any person who shall disclose information that will 
22 
lead to the arrest and final conviction of the malefactor shall be rewarded twenty five percent 
23 
(25%) of the cash money or articles of value confiscated or forfeited in favor of the government. 
24 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
25 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision otherwise affected shall remain valid 
• 
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and subsisting. 
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1 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Presidential Decree No. 1602 is hereby amended and 
2 
rule and regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed. 
3 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
4 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
6