Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Queson City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._7528

Introduced by Representative Jose T. Panganiban, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to prohibit the live streaming and broadcasting of
cockfighting in radio, television, internet, and other social media platform, for
purposes of betting and gambling.

Cockfighting or sabong is a popular, customary and traditional form of
recreation in the country. It is usually held during Sundays, holidays, local
fiestas and fairs. Cockfighting shares elements of Asian culture. History shows
that cockfighting flourished even before Spain colonized our country.

The present age of technology puts live cockfighting in the limelight.
Reports show that there are live domestic and foreign broadcasts in radio and
television as well as internet live streaming of cockfighting in the country.
Operators of these live and online cockfighting utilize the numerous off-track
betting (OTB) stations used for horse-racing and restaurants and club facilities
and institution in Metro Manila and the provinces for betting and gambling.
Internet-savvy bettors are now into the live-streaming of actual cockfighting
events. In these activities, cockfighting is exploited and used for uncontrolled
online gambling. This new form of gambling which is not regulated by the
government is a social menace that facilitates corruption.

Cockfighting is an indigenous Filipino heritage, and we need to preserve
such customs and traditions to enhance our national identity.

Hence, this bill seeks to prohibit the live broadcast of cockfighting in
order to eradicate the proliferation of uncontrolled betting and prevent illegal
online gambling. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly
recommended.

os

JOSE T. PAN IBAN, JR.
Represei |AC-IP Partylist



Republic of the Philippines
Bouse of Representatives
Queson City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _'7528

Introduced by Representative Jose T. Panganiban, Jr.

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE LIVE STREAMING AND BROADCASTING OF
COCKFIGHTING FOR PURPOSES OF BETTING AND GAMBLING
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF

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-Live
Streaming and Broadcasting of Cockfighting Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is the policy of the State to prevent
the operation and proliferation of activities that promote gambling in the
country especially through the use of social and broadcast media. Towards this
end, the State prohibits the live streaming and broadcasting of cockfighting in
radio, television and the internet which facilitate uncontrolled online gambling
and betting.

SEC. 3. Unlawful or Prohibited Acts. — \t shall be unlawful for any

person to:


20

21

(a) Use radio, television and the internet to broadcast or livestream an
actual cockfighting event for purposes of betting and gambling;

(b) Operate, produce or promote the broadcast of actual cockfighting
event through a radio or television station for purposes of betting and gambling:
and

(c) Maintain a website or platform where live streaming of an actual
cockfighting for purposes of betting and gambling is being shown or exhibited.

For purposes of this Act, live streaming refers to the act of transmitting,
receiving, or broadcasting a live video or audio coverage of a cockfighting event
over the internet.

SEC. 4. Penalties. — Any person who violates Section 3 of this Act shall,
upon conviction, suffer the following penalties:

(a) If the offender is the presenter or exhibitor of live stream
cockfighting, imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more than five
(5) years or a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00)
but not more than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).

(b) If the offender is the internet service provider or website operator,
imprisonment of not less than fifteen (15) years but not more than twenty (20)
years and a fine of not less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).

If the offense is committed by a corporation, partnership, association or

any other juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president,


managing director, partner, or chief operating officer responsible for the
violation.

If the offender is a foreigner, the offender shall, after service of sentence
or payment of fine, be subject to deportation and permanently banned from
entering the country.

(c) _ If the offender is the operator or owner of the radio or television
station, or the producer or promoter of the live broadcast of cockfighting,
imprisonment of not less than twenty (20) years but not more than thirty (30)
years and a fine of not less than Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00) but not
more than Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00).

The license to operate of the erring radio or television station shall be
cancelled and revoked permanently. The operator or owner thereof shall not be
allowed to operate similar establishments in a different name or in a different
location.

SEC. 5. Duties of Government Agencies. — The Philippine National
Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) shall be
responsible for monitoring and implementing the provisions of existing laws on
cockfighting, in coordination with the following government agencies to ensure
the effective implementation of this Act:

(a) Department of Justice (DOJ);

(b) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);


20

21

(c) Department of Information and Communications Technology
(DICT); and

(d) National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

The PNP and/or NBI shall, in addition to its regular functions exercise the
following duties:

(a) Seek the assistance of the local government units (LGU) to identify
the operators and persons responsible for the live broadcast, transmission or live
streaming of cockfighting;

(b) Initiate the prosecution of all persons involved in the violation of
this Act;

(c) Receive complaints from the general public on the existence of
business establishments that engage in the live broadcast, transmission or live
streaming of cockfighting;

(d) | Recommend the cancellation of the business permits of those found
violating the provisions of this Act; and

(e) Perform such other acts necessary to carry out the objectives of this
Act.

SEC. 6. Disposition of Materials. — Any prohibited material, including
tools, instruments and equipment, used in the broadcast or live streaming of
cockfighting shall, after lawful seizure and final conviction of the offender, be

forfeited in favor of the government.


1

10

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Justice shall, in
coordination with the National Telecommunications and Commission, issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any
provision of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,