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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._628

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure is a refiled bill originally introduced in the 15th Congress by the late
Representative Pedro P. Romuaido, and subsequently reintroduced in the 16th and
17th Congresses by former Representative Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo.

The Explanatory Note of House Bill No. 3515 from the 17th Congress, authored by
former Representative Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo, is hereby adopted as part of this
measure, which remains relevant in the ongoing campaign against illegal gambling. It
states:
“Illegal gambling is a universally recognized social ill that is known to result in
the squandering of income and the disintegration of families, lead to the
commission of crimes, and is a source of corruption. Hence, the State
condemns and criminalizes illegal gambling activities. However, despite the
campaign against illegal gambling, it continues to subsist and remain prevalent
in the country.
The suppression of illegal gambling will require a comprehensive approach from
and the joint efforts of both the government and the public. In the meantime,
Congress should adopt more stringent measures against illegal gambling as
part of its contribution to the campaign against the same. This proposed
measure is a step in that direction as it seeks to increase the penalties against
those who engage in illegal gambling activities. The imposition of heavier
penalties will show the seriousness with which Congress views the problem of
illegal gambling and is in fulfillment of Congress's responsibility of ensuring that
laws of the land are able to meet and respond to the challenges of the present
times.”


Despite existing prohibitions under Presidential Decree No. 1602, illegal gambling
continues to thrive in many parts of the country. The persistence of this illicit activity
undermines social order, exploits economic vulnerabilities, and erodes public trust in
law enforcement and governance. Existing penalties have proven insufficient to deter
offenders, particularly with the emergence of more sophisticated forms of gambling

linked to organized crime, corruption, digital platforms, and, more recently, acti
associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)

It is therefore imperative for Congress to revisit and strengthen the provisions of
Presidential Decree No. 1602. This bill seeks to impose stiffer penalties and modernize
our legal response to illegal gambling in order to protect vulnerable sectors of society,
uphold the rule of law, and safeguard the Filipino family from the social consequences
of this destructive vice.

The immediate enactment and favorable passage of this measure are respectfully
recommended.

JURD) US M. ROMUALDO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.628

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 1 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1602, PRESCRIBING

STIFFER PENALTIES ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING

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

assembled:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of Presidential Decree No. 1602 is hereby amended, as follows:
2
3 Section. 1 Penalties. The following penalties are hereby imposed:
4
5 The penalty of prision correccional in its [medium] MAXIMUM period [or] AND a
6 fine ranging from FIFTY THOUSAND [PS0,000.00| TO ONE HUNDRED
7 THOUSAND (P100,000.00) PESOS, and in cases of recidivism, the penalty of prision
8 mayor in its (medium) MAXIMUM period [or] AND a fine ranging from [five thousand to
9 ten thousand] ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (100,000.00) TO ONE HUNDRED
10 FIFTY THOUSAND (P150,000.00) PESOS shall be imposed upon,
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12 (1) XXX
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14 (2) Any person who shall knowingly permit any form of gambling referred to in the preceding

15 sub-paragraph to be carried on in an inhabited or uninhabited place or in any building, vessel or other
16 — means of transportation owned or controlled by him. If the place where gambling is carried on has a
17 reputation of a gambling place or that prohibited gambling is frequently carried on therein, or
18 the place is or government building or barangay hall, the malefactor shall be punished by

19 [prision correccional] PRISION MAYOR in it [maximum] MINIMUM period and the fine of [six

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thousand] ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P150,000.00).

(b) The penalty of [prision correccional in its maximum] PRISION MAYOR IN ITS
MEDIUM period [or] AND a fine of [six thousand] TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS
(P200,000.00) shall be imposed upon the maintainer or conductor of the above gambling schemes.

(c) The penalty of prision mayor in its [medium] MAXIMUM period with [temporary]
PERPETUAL absolute disqualification [or] AND a fined of [six thousand] TWO HUNDRED FIFTY
THOUSAND PESOS (P250,000.00) shall be imposed if the maintainer, conductor or banker of said
gambling schemes is a government official, or where such government official is a player, promoter,

referee, umpire, judge or coach in case of game-fixing, point- shaving and machination.

(d) The penalty of prision correccional in its (medium) MAXIMUM period [or] AND a fine
ranging from [four hundred to two thousand] TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS (P20,600.00) TO FIFTY
THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person who shall, knowingly and
without lawful purpose in any hour or any day, possess any lottery list, paper pertaining to or in any
manner used in the games of jueteng, jai alai or horse racing, bookings, and similar games of

lotteries and numbers which have taken place or about to take place.

(e) The penalty of [temporary] PERMANENT absolute disqualification shall be imposed
upon any barangay official who with knowledge of existence of a gambling house or place in his

jurisdiction fails to abate the same or take action in connection herewith.

(8) The penalty of prision [correccional] MAYOR in its [maximum] MINIMUM period
[or] AND a fine ranging from [five hundred pesos to thousand pesos] TWENTY THOUSAND
PESOS (P20,000.00) TO FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) shall be imposed upon any

security, security guard, watchman, private or house detective of hotels, villages, buildings,

enclosures, and the like which have the reputation of a gambling place or where gambling activities

being held

SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, executive orders and issuances, rules and regulations, and other
issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or

modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or

‘a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,