Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. 6!55
Introduced by Rep. ANGEL0 MARCOS BARBA
2nd District, Ilocos Norte
EXPIAIAITORY NOTE
Sports has been the outlet of man's insatiable thirst for competition. It
includes   all   forms   of competitive physical   activity or games that   provide
enjoyment  to  the  participants  as  well  as  entertainment  to  spectators.  In
ancient  times,  the  Greeks  established  a  wide  range  of sports  that  heavily
influenced their society. Sports became such a prominent part of their culture
that they created the Olympic Games which were held every four years in the
small Greek village called Olympia. The Olympic Games continue to exist until
today  and  is  considered  as  the  highest  level  of all  spo]ts  competition.  It
features all the top athletes from more than Zoo nations.
For some people, sports are a leisure or an avenue for them to develop as
a person. It also creates an outlet for the youth and diverts their attention to
avoid  bad  vices  and  unhealthy  habits.  On  the  other  hand,  some  people
consider sports  as their ticket out of poverty-their source of income and
livelihood that provides them a way to feed their families and give them a
chance to lead better lives.  It is, therefore, unfortunate that there are evil
entities who would want to negatively influence the result of sports for their
own selfish interests.
The  Philippines,  unfortunately,  has  been  hampered  and  hounded by
game-fixing  issues.   The  first   major  scandal  that  hit   Philippine   Sports
happened in the 197os when the favorites Crispa team lost to a less heralded
Mariwasa team. Over the past decade, professional and amateur basketball
has also seen its fair share of alleged game-fixing scandals. Most prominent
among these was the FEU Tamaraws Men's Basketball team in the late 2ooos
and early 2olos when several of its players were accused of being involved
with syndicates. One prominent player from that team survived a supposed hit
from these syndicates.
Game-fixing deprives the athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators the
chance to truly enjoy a game that they love. It also destroys the beauty of the
game and robs everybody of the satisfaction of watching great plays, displays
of sportsmanship, and spectacular highlights.
It is incumbent upon Congress to ensure that the sanctity of fair play,
competition, and sportsmanship are protected in order to deliver to each and


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every  one  invested  the  purest  sensation  and  experience  that  sports  can
provide. Accordingly, this bill is proposed in order to redefine the crime of
game-fixing and providing stiffer penalties.  It seeks to ensure and promote
fair conduct in Philippine Sports.
The bill provides penalties of imprisonment from three (3) years to six (6)
years or a fine of not less than One Million pesos (P1,ooo,ooo.oo) but not
more than Five million pesos (P5,ooo,ooo.oo) or both at the discretion of the
court for any offender. It also provides penalties of imprisonment from six (6)
years  to  twelve  (12)  years  or  a  fine  of  not  less  than  One  million  pesos
(P1,ooo,ooo.oo) but not more than Five million pesos (P5,ooo,ooo.oo)  or
both at the discretion of the court, when the offender is an athlete, promoter,
referee, umpire, judge, coach in the game, race or sports competition, or any
other sports official. Finally, it provides the penalty of life imprisonment or a
fine not less than Ten million pesos (Plo,ooo,ooo.oo) but not more than Fifty
million pesos (P5o,ooo,ooo.oo) or both at the discretion of the court, when
the offender is a member of a syndicate as defined in Section 4 of this Act.
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bifi iro.   6455
Introduced by Rep. ANGEL0 MARCOS BARRA
2nd District, Ilocos Norte
ANAor
REDEFINING THE CRIME 0F GAME FIXING AND PROVIDING
PENAIITIES TH EREFOR
Pe  {1  en.act_ed by  the  Senql_e _cmd the  House  Of Represeritc[tives  Of the
Philippines in Congress assembled :
SECI`I0N 1. Short TitJe. - This Act shall be known as the "Anti-Game
Fixing IJaw. „
SECI'ION 2. Game Fin.ng. - Game Fixing refers to any act or series of
acts committed by any person or persons who maliciously conducts or cause
to be conducted any professional or amateur sports other than on the basis of
honest playing skill or ability of the players or participants.
It  shall  include  any arrangement,  agreement,  scheme  or  machinations
whereintheskillorabilityofanyplayerorparticipantinagame,sport,raceor
sports  competition  shall  be  limited  deliberately  in  order  to  influence  the
process or to produce a predetermined result.
The   payment   or   receipt   of  money  or  valuable   consideration   shall
constitute a prima facie evidence of game-fixing.
SECTION 3. Other Forms a/ Gczme Fin.ng. - Game-fixing as defined in
Section 2 hereof, shall likewise include the following acts:
a)  Point-shaving refers to any such arrangement, combination, scheme or
agreement by which the skill or ability of any player or participant in a
game,  race  or  sports  competition to  make  points  or scores  shall be
limited deliberately in order to influence the result thereof in favor of
one or the other team, player or participant
b)  Game machination refer to any other fraudulent, deceitful, unfair or
dishonest  means,  method,  manner  or  practice  employed  for  the
purpose of influencing the result of any game, race or spo]ts contest.
Game-Fixing in any of the forms defined in Sections 2 and 3 of this Act
is hereby declared unlawful.


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Game-Fixing in any of the forms defined in Sections 2 and 3 of this Act
is hereby declared unlawful.
SECTION 4.  Game-Fin.7tg  bar Sgrnch.care.  -  Game-fixing is deemed
committed by a  syndicate  if carried out by a  group  of three  (3)  or  more
persons  conspiring  or  confederating  with  one  another  to  perform  acts
specified in Sections 2 and 3 of this Act.
SpquoIN   5.   Proposal,   Attempt,   cmd   Conspiraey   to   Commit
Game-Fin.ng.  - A proposal, attempt, or conspiraey to commit game-fixing
shall be punishable with the same penalty prescribed under this Act.
SECI'I0N 6. CotJered Sports. - As used in this Act, game-fixing may
only be committed in the following sports:
a)  Professional  sports  shall  refer  to  individual  or team  sports,  games,
contest, bouts, tournament or competitions whereby the participating
athlete  is  paid  sums  of money  or  other  forms  of compensation  as
regular salary or prize for participation, which are licensed, accredited
and recognized by the Games and Amusements Board;
b)  Amateur sports shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contests,
bouts,   tournaments   or   competitions,   including   collegiate   leagues
conducted  by  the  public  or  private  schools  athletic  associations,
whereby   the   participant   is   engaged   largely   or   entirely   without
remuneration:    Provided,    however,    the    local    government    unit
(LGU)-sponsored,    sanctioned    or    organized    sports    events    or
competitions shall not be covered in this Act.
SECI`I0N 7. Pe7iaJn.es. - The following penalties are hereby imposed
on the acts of Game-fixing as herein described:
a)  The penalty of imprisonment from three (3) years to six (6) years or a
fine of not less than One Million pesos (P1,ooo,ooo.oo) but not more
than Five million pesos (P5,ooo,ooo.oo) or both at the discretion of
the court shall be imposed upon any person found guilty of any offense
defined herein;
b)  The penalty of imprisonment from six (6) years to twelve (12) years or a
fine of not less than One million pesos (P1,ooo,ooo.oo) but not more
than Five mfllion pesos (P5,ooo,ooo.oo) or both at the discretion of
the court, when the offender is an athlete, promoter, referee, umpire,
judge,  coach in the game,  race  or sports  competition,  or any other
sports official ;
c)  The penalty of life imprisonment or a fine not less than Ten million
pesos   (Plo,ooo,ooo.oo)   but   not   more  than   Fifty   million   pesos
(P5o,ooo,ooo.oo)  or both  at the  discretion  of the  court,  when the
offender is a member of a syndicate as defined in Section 4 of this Act.


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The maximum penalty provided shall be imposed upon any person who
pays or receives money or any other valuable consideration in furtherance of
the crime of game-fixing.
Prot„.ded, That if the offender is a public officer, whether elected or
appointed, an additional penalty of perpetual disqualification from holding
any public office or employment shall be imposed: Provided further, that if the
violation  is  committed  by  a  partnership,  corporation,  association  or  any
juridical  entity,  the  partner,  president,  director,  manager,  trustee,  estate
administrator,  or  officer,  who  consents  to  or  knowingly  tolerates  such
violation, shall be held criminally liable as a principal.
Proui.did /inafty, That if the offender is an alien, the same penalties
shall  be  applied  and  the  offender  shall  be  deported  only  after  service  of
sentence.
SmcITPIN_  8..   Perpftual   Disqualiifeation  from   Participation   in
Amateur   and  Pro/essi.onaJ  Sports.   -   The   following   persons   shall   be
perpetually disqualified to  participate  in any capacity in  any sports  in the
Country:
a)  Those engaged in professional sports if found guilty of game-fixing; and
b)  Those engaged in amateur sports if found guilty of game- fixing for the
second time
The  Philippine  Sports  Commission,  Games  and Amusements  Board,
Department  of  Education,  Commission  on  Higher  Education,  and  other
concerned   agencies   shall   be   served   copies   of  the   decision   and   order
disqualifying a person from participation in any capacity in any sports in the
Country.
SEorloN 9. ROJes o/Gouemme7if Agencies. -The following agencies
and instrumentalities  shall be tasked to do the following in implementing
Section 8 of this
a)  Game and Amusements Board shall revoke the license of professional
athletes and other sports officials;
b)  Philippine Sports Commission shall remove athletes from the national
team,  including coaches and other sports officials,  and ban  athletes
from  participating  in  any  amateur  sports  competitions  locally  and
abroad;
c)  Department    of   Education    shall    ban    primary    and    secondary
student-athletes    including    coaches    and    officiating    staff,    from
participating  in   Palarong  Pambansa  and  other  DepEd-sponsored,
sanctioned or organized sports events or competitions;


d)  Philippine  Olympic  Committee  /  National  Sports  Associations  shall
remove   athletes,   coaches   and   Other   sports   officials   from   their
respective rosters;
e)  Athletic associations shall disqualify athletes, coaches and other sports
officials from participating in any inter-school athletic programs and
competitions; and
I)   Schools shall disqualify athletes, coaches and other sports officials from
representing the school to any sports events.
The   concerned  agencies   shall   coordinate   and   monitor  the   strict
implementation of accessory penalty provided under Section 8.
SEcrl0N 11. Separabi7fty CJause. - If any part or provision of this
Act  is  held  invalid  or  unconstitutional,  the  other  provisions  not  affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
SEorloN  12. Repeazing  Ciduse.  - The provisions on game-fixing,
point-shaving and game machinations in sports contests under Sections I to 4
of Presidential Decree No. 483, as amended, pertinent provisions of Section 1
of  Presidential  Decree  No.   16o2,  and  all  other  laws,  executive  orders,
issuqn.ces, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to the
provlsionsofthisActaredeemedamended,modifiedorrepealedaccordingly.
SEcrloN 13. Ejrecn.I)ztry. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after  its  publication  in  the  Official  Gazette  or  in  a  newspaper  of general
circulation.
Approved.