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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
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. 
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, thriftlessness, 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 when he said “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till 
October 26, 2022
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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 warning 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 us 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. 
BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR. 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
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 2022”. 
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 - any building, structure or facility used or intended to be used for 
cockfights. 
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
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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 
 
2. 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 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 
(Phpl00,000.00) nor more than three hundred thousand pesos (Php300,000.00), 
at the discretion of the Court; 
 


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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. 
 
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 


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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;