PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1602

SIMPLIFYING AND PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF PHILIPPINE GAMBLING LAWS

WHEREAS,

Philippine Gambling Laws particularly Articles 195-199, the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act No. 3063 (Horse Racing Bookies), Presidential Decree No. 499 (Cockfighting), Presidential Decree No. 483, (Game Fixing), Presidential Decree No., 519 (Slot Machines) and Presidential Decree No. 1036 (Jai-alai Bookies) and other City and Municipal Ordinances gambling all over the country have become ineffective and easily circumvented in view of the confusing and inappropriate system of penalties imposed on violations thereof.

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to update these gambling laws for simplicity and clearer understanding and to standardize and provide stiffer penalties for their violations to make them more effective and responsive to the present norms of conduct and behavior of the people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and in order to effect the desired and necessary changes and reforms in the social and economic structure of our society, do hereby order and declare to be part of the laws of the land, the following:

Sec. 1. Violations and Penalties. — The penalty of prision mayor in its medium degree or a fine ranging from Five Hundred Pesos to Two Thousand Pesos and in case of recidivism the penalty of prision correccional in its medium degree or a fine of ranging from One Thousand Pesos to Six Thousand Pesos shall be imposed upon:

(a) Any person other than those referred to in the succeeding subsection who in any manner, shall directly or indirectly take part in any game of cockfighting, jueteng, bookies (jai- alai or horse racing to include game fixing) and other lotteries, cara y cruz or pompiang and the like, black jack, lucky nine, "pusoy" or Russian Poker, monte, baccarat and other card games, palk que, domino, mahjong, high and low, slot machines, roullette, pinball and other mechanical inventories or devices, dog racing, boat racing, car raising and other races, basketball, volleyball, boxing, seven-eleven dice games and the like and other contests to include game fixing, point shaving and other machinations banking or percentage game, or any other game or scheme, whether upon chance or skill, which do not have a franchise from the national government, wherein wagers consisting of money, articles of value of representative of value are made;

(b) Any person who shall knowingly permit any form of gambling referred to in the preceding subdivision to be carried on in inhabited or uninhabited places or any building, vessel or other means of transportation owned or controlled by him. If the place where gambling is carried on has a reputation of a gambling place or that prohibited gambling is frequently carried on therein or the place is a public or government building or barangay hall, the culprit shall be punished by the penalty provided for in its maximum period and a fine of Six Thousand Pesos. The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum degree and a fine of Six Thousand Pesos shall be imposed upon the maintainer, conductor of the above gambling schemes. The penalty of prision mayor in its medium degree and temporary absolute disqualification and a fine of Six Thousand Pesos shall be imposed if the maintainer, conductor or banker is a government official, or if a player, promoter, referee, umpire, judge or coach in cases of game-fixing, point-shaving and other game machination. The penalty of prision correccional in its medium degree and a fine ranging from Five Hundred pesos to Two Thousand Pesos shall be imposed upon any person who shall knowingly and without lawful purpose in any hour of any day shall have in his possession any lottery list, paper, or other matter containing letter, figures, signs or symbols which pertain to or in any manner used in the game of jueteng, jai-alai or horse racing bookies and similar game or lottery which has taken place or about to take place.

Sec. 2. Barangay Official. — Any barangay official in whose jurisdiction such gambling house is found and which house has the reputation of a gambling place shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its medium period and a fine ranging from Five Hundred to Two Thousand Pesos and temporary absolute disqualifications.

Sec. 3. Informer's Reward. — Any person who shall give the information that will lead to the arrest and final conviction of the offender shall be rewarded an amount equivalent to Twenty Per Centum (20%) of the cash money confiscated form the offender.

Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. — The provisions of Articles 196, 197, 198 and 199 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended, Republic Act No. 3063, Presidential Decree Nos. 483, 499, 510, 1306, Letter of Instructions, laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, City and Municipal Ordinances which are inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed or accordingly modified.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take effect immediately upon publication thereof by the Minister of the Ministry of Public Information at least once in a newspaper of general circulation.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.