THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
Republic of the Philippines * 
.'I, 
. d l  
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA "LOI" P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Jueteng is not only a form of gambling but has become a way of life for many. In 
a country where majority of the population lives below poverty line, it is not surprising 
that people bet their hopes on this poor man's game. 
Unfortunately, jueteng is not merely a social act but a tremendous source of 
corruption- given the huge revenues generated from its operations - with daily collection 
of at least fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) in Luzon alone - it has attracted the 
interest not only of unscrupulous individuals but also of corrupt politicians. 
Indeed, it has become so intertwined with politics that at least thirty (30%) 
percent of gross collections are allocated to law enforcement officers and national and 
local officials. 
Curbing this illegal activity is not easy. Prohibiting it difficult. 
Despite various laws enacted against illegal gambling, the government fails to go 
after big-time syndicates and operators. Sadly, those who sincerely 
wage war against these criminals are the ones ironically being implicated, while 
the guilty ones remain scot-free, and are given preferential treatment in government, 
particularly by officials in cahoots with them. 
The proposed measure seeks to address this problem by legalizing jueteng 
and setting in place the necessary governmental mechanism for its operations. 
Through its legalization, t.he government can finally collect the revenues sourced 
froin this numbers game, make use of the proceeds to finance important government 
programs and projects, deny syndicates opportunity to benefit from it 
and stamp-out corruption. 
Hence, early passage of this proposed measure is earnestly sought. 
LUISA i i ~ o ~ l i  
P.!@JERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator . 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
Republic of the Philippines 
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
LEGALIZING JUETENG 
Be it enacted by the Senate ann’ House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short title. - This Act shall be lcnown as the “Jueteng Act of 2004“. 
SECTION 2- Definition of terms - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
1. 
Jueteng - refers to a form of lottery or numbers game that usually involves 
the combination of 37 numbers against 37 numbers, marked in small 
wooden sizes and placed inside a container; and is played by drawing and 
recording one number which will become the first number of the winning 
combination and reluming the same to the container for the drawing of the 
second number of the winning combination, which could be )-4,2-6,5- 
9,34-36,etc. or a total of 1,379 combinations. 
2. 
Illegal jueteng operator - refers to the maintainer, conductor and banker 
of jueteng activities. 
3. 
Employee - refers to any individual who directly or indirectly lakes part in 
jueteng activities for compensation 
4. 
PAGCOR - refers to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation 
SECTION 3. Establishment of jueteng - There shall be established a numbers 
game or jueteng, to be placed under the sole control and supervision of PAGCOR. 
SECTION 4. Responsibilities of PAGCOR - PAGCOR shall have the following 
responsibilities : 


To formulate rules and regulations relating to the conduct of the game; 
To ensure that the determination of the winning numbers and/or 
combination thereof shall be made open to the public either through 
television or radio broadcast and/or in the presence of observers, randomly 
selected for every draw; 
To take necessary steps for ensuring that proceeds are properly allocated 
and distributed as provided by existing laws, particularly the provisions of 
this Act. 
To take steps for coordination of various operations nationwide, 
establishing for this purpose, provincial, city and municipal outlets to 
operate and supervise the game at the local level. 
To coordinate with various law enforcement agencies and engage their 
services in the apprehension and consequent prosecution of those who are 
illegally operating the same; 
To formulate the game's necessary mechanics and appropriate standards 
for its operation; 
To adopt measures that safeguard the interest of the betting public; 
To maintain liaisoii with different government agencies, and appropriate 
non-government agencies and ensure their maximum cooperation and 
coordination in all matters relating to jueteng operation; and 
To adopt such other measures as it may deem necessary. 
SECTION 5. Prohibition. - No individual or private entity shall be engaged 
directly or indirectly in the operation of jueteng and no franchise or license relating 
thereto shall likewise be issued by PAGCOR or any other government agency or 
instrumentality. Any violation thereof shall be punishable under this Act and under other 
appropriate existing laws. 


.- . 
SECTION 6. Allocation of proceeds. - All revenues, proceeds and income 
generated from jueteng operation shall be allocated and distributed in the following pay 
for the services of the authorized collectors, their supervisors and other personnel, 
Twenty (20%) shall be utilized to pay for the winning tickets and the rest shall be placed 
under the Presidential Social Development Fund of PAGCOR and other related 
programs, subject to existing policies and procedures. 
SECTION 7. Penalties. - The following penalties are hereby imposed: 
a. 
The penalty of reclusion perpetua in its minimum period and a fine 
ranging from five hundred thousand pesos (P500,OOO.OO) to one million 
pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any illegal jueteng operator 
or any person who' shall directly finance and/or maintain illegal jueteng 
operations. 
b. 
The penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period and a fine ranging 
from three hundred thousand pesos (P300,OOO.OO) to five hundred 
thousand pesos (P500,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any person who shall 
knowingly permit illegal jueteng operations to be carried on in an 
inhabited or uninhabited place or any building, vessel or other means of 
transportation owned or controlled by him. 
c. 
The penalty of prision mayor in its minimum period and a fine ranging 
from ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO-00) to fifty thousand pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any individual who shall directly or 
indirectly take part as an employee in any illegal jueteng operations. 
d. 
The penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine 
ranging from ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO.OO) to fifty thousand pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon any security officer, security guard, 
watchman, private or house detective of hotels, villages, buildings, 
enclosures and the like which have the reputation of an illegal jueteng 
place or where jueteng activities are being held. 
e. 
The penalty of reclusion perpetua in its maximum period with temporary 
absolute disqualification and a fine ranging &om five hundred thousand 
imposed if the offender is a government or public official, regardless of 
the extent of participation in illegal jueteng operations. 


SECTION 8. Appropriations. - 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated 
such sum as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
I or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,