MALACAÑANG

Manila

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 449 May 9, 1974

COCKFIGHTING LAW OF 1974

WHEREAS, cockfighting has been and still is a popular, traditional and customary form of recreation
and entertainment among Filipinos during legal holidays, local fiestas, agricultural, commercial and
industrial fairs, carnivals or expositions;

WHEREAS, by reason of the aforestated meaning and connotation of cockfighting in relation to

filipino customs and traditions, it should neither be exploited as an object of commercialism or
business enterprise, nor made a tool of uncontrolled gambling, but more as a vehicle for the
preservation and perpetuation of native Filipino heritage and thereby enhance our national identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the

powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order to be part of the laws of the
land, the following:

Sec 1. Title. This Decree shall be known as the "Cockfighting Law of 1974".

Section 2. Scope. This law shall govern the establishment, operation, maintenance and ownership
of cockpits.

Section 3. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared a policy of the government to insure within the
framework of the New Society maximum development and promotion of wholesome recreation and
amusement to bring about the following goals:

(a) To effectively control and regulate cockfighting towards its establishment as a national
recreation, relaxation and source of entertainment;

(b) To provide additional revenue for our tourism program; and

(c) To remove and prevent excessive and unreasonable business operation and profit
considerations in the management of cockpits and, instead preserve Philippine customs and
traditions and thereby enhance our national identity.

Section 4. Definition of Terms. As used in this law, the following terms shall be understood, applied
and construed as follows:

(a) Cockfighting shall embrace and mean the commonly known game or term "cockfighting
derby, pintakasi or tupada", or its equivalent terms in different Philippine localities.

(b) Zoning Law or Ordinance Either both national or local city or municipal legislation which
logically arranges, prescribes, defines and apportions a given political subdivision into
specific land uses as present and future projection of needs warrant.

(c) Bet Taker of Promoter A person who calls and takes care of bets from owners of both
gamecocks and those of other bettors before he orders commencement of the cockfight and
thereafter distributes won bets to the winners after deducting a certain commission.

(d) Gaffer (Taga Tari) A person knowledgeable in the art of arming fighting cocks with gaff or
gaffs on either or both legs.

(e) Referee (Sentenciador) A person who watches and oversees the proper gaffing of
fighting cocks, determines the physical condition of fighting cocks while cockfighting is in
progress, the injuries sustained by the cocks and their capability to continue fighting and
decides and make known his decision by work or gestures and result of the cockfight by
announcing the winner or declaring a tie or no contest game.
 (f) Bettor A person who participates in cockfights and with the use of money or other things
of value, bets with other bettors or through the bet taker or promoter and wins or loses his
bet depending upon the result of the cockfight as announced by the Referee or
Sentenciador. He may be the owner of fighting cock.

Section 5. Cockpits and Cockfighting: In General:

(a) Ownership, Operation and Management of Cockpits. Only Filipino citizens not otherwise
inhibited by existing laws shall be allowed to own, manage and operate cockpits.
Cooperative capitalization is encouraged.

(b) Establishment of Cockpits. Only one cockpit shall be allowed in each city or municipality,
except that in cities or municipalities with a population of over one hundred thousand, two
cockpits may be established, maintained and operated.

(c) Cockpits Site and Construction. Cockpits shall be constructed and operated within the
appropriate areas as prescribed in Zoning Law or Ordinance. In the absence of such law or
ordinance, the local executives shall see to it that no cockpits are constructed within or near
existing residential or commercial areas, hospitals, school buildings, churches or other public
buildings. Owners, lessees, or operators of cockpits which are now in existence and do not
conform to this requirement are given three years from the date of effectivity of this Decree to
comply herewith. Approval or issuance of building permits for the construction of cockpits
shall be made by the city or provincial engineer in accordance with their respective building
codes, ordinances or engineering laws and practices.

(d) Holding of Cockfights. Except as provided in this Decree, cockfighting shall be allowed
only in licensed cockpits during Sundays and legal holidays and during local fiestas for not
more than three days. It may also be held during provincial, city or municipal, agricultural,
commercial or industrial fair, carnival or exposition for a similar period of three days upon
resolution of the province, city or municipality where such fair, carnival or exposition is to be
held, subject to the approval of the Chief of Constabulary or his authorized representative:
Provided, that, no cockfighting on the occasion of such fair, carnival or exposition shall be
allowed within the month of a local fiesta or for more than two occasions a year in the same
city or municipality: Provided, further, that no cockfighting shall be held on December 30
(Rizal Day), June 12 (Philippine Independence Day) November 30 (National Heroes Day),
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Election or Referendum Day and during Registration Days for
such election or referendum.

(e) Cockfighting for Entertainment of Tourists or for Charitable Purposes. Subject to the
preceding subsection hereof, the Chief Constabulary or his authorized representative may
also allow the holding of cockfighting for the entertainment of foreign dignitaries or for
tourists, or for returning Filipinos, commonly known as "Balikbayan", or for the support of
national fund-raising campaigns for charitable purposes as may be authorized by the Office
of the President, upon resolution of a provincial board, city or municipal council, in licensed
cockpits or in playgrounds or parks: Provided, that this privilege shall be extended for only
one time, for a period not exceeding three days, within a year to a province, city, or
municipality.

(f) Other games during cockfights prescribed. No gambling of any kind shall be permitted on
the premises of the cockpit or place of cockfighting during cockfights. The owner, manager or
lessee off such cockpit and the violators of this injunction shall be criminally liable under
Section 8 hereof.

Section 6. Licensing of Cockpits. City and municipal mayors are authorized to issue licenses for the
operation and maintenance of cockpits subject to the approval of the Chief of Constabulary or his
authorized representatives. For this purpose, ordinances may be promulgated for the imposition and
collection of taxes and fees not exceeding the rates fixed under Section 13, paragraphs (a) and (b);
and 19; paragraph (g) 16 of Presidential Decree No. 231, dated June 28, 1973, otherwise known as
the Local Tax Code, as amended.

Section 7. Cockfighting Officials. Gaffers, referees or bet takers or promoters shall not act as such
in any cockfight herein authorized, without first securing a license renewable every year on their
birthmonth from the city or municipality where such cockfighting is held. Cities and municipalities
may charge a tax of not more than twenty pesos. Only licensed gaffers, referees, bet takers or
promoters shall officiate in all kinds of cockfighting authorized in this Decree.

Section 8. Penal Provisions. Any violation of the provisions of this Decree and of the rules and
regulations promulgated by the Chief of Constabulary pursuant thereto shall be punished as follows:

a. By prision correccional in its maximum period and a fine of two thousand pesos, with
subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, when the offender is the financer, owner,
manger or operator of cockpit, or the gaffer, referee or bet taker in cockfights; or the offender
is guilty of allowing, promoting or participating in any other kind of gambling in the premises
of cockfights during cockfights.

b. By prision correccional or a fine of not less than six hundred pesos nor more than two
thousand pesos or both, such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, with
subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, in case of any other offender.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. The provisions of Section 2285 and 2286 of the Revised Penal Code,
Republic Act No. 946, all laws, decrees, rules and regulations, or orders which are inconsistent with
this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Date of Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the
completion of the publication in the Official Gazette.

Done in the City of Manila, this 9th day of May, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-four.

MALACAÑANG
Manila

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1602

PRESCRIBING STIFFER PENALTIES ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING

WHEREAS, Philippine Gambling Laws such as Articles 195-199 of the Revised Penal Code (Forms
of Gambling and Betting), R.A. 3063 (Horse racing Bookies), P.D. 449 (Cockfighting), P.D. 483
(Game Fixing), P.D. 510 (Slot Machines) in relation to Opinion Nos. 33 and 97 of the Ministry of
Justice, P.D. 1306 (Jai-Alai Bookies) and other City and Municipal Ordinances or gambling all over
the country prescribe penalties which are inadequate to discourage or stamp out this pernicious
activities;

WHEREAS, there is now a need to increase their penalties to make them more effective in
combating this social menace which dissipate the energy and resources of our people;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by

virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:

Section 1. Penalties. The following penalties are hereby imposed:

(a) The penalty of prison correccional in its medium period of a fine ranging from one
thousand to six thousand pesos, and in case of recidivism, the penalty of prision mayor in its
medium period or a fine ranging from five thousand to ten thousand pesos shall be imposed
upon:

1. Any person other than those referred to in the succeeding sub-sections who in any
manner, shall directly or indirectly take part in any illegal or unauthorized activities or
games of cockfighting, jueteng, jai alai or horse racing to include bookie operations
and game fixing, numbers, bingo and other forms of lotteries; cara y cruz, pompiang
and the like; 7-11 and any game using dice; black jack, lucky nine, poker and its
derivatives, monte, baccarat, cuajao, pangguingue and other card games; paik que,
high and low, mahjong, domino and other games using plastic tiles and the likes; slot
 machines, roulette, pinball and other mechanical contraptions and devices; dog
racing, boat racing, car racing and other forms of races, basketball, boxing,
volleyball, bowling, pingpong and other forms of individual or team contests to
include game fixing, point shaving and other machinations; banking or percentage
game, or any other game scheme, whether upon chance or skill, wherein wagers
consisting of money, articles of value or representative of value are at stake or made;

2. Any person who shall knowingly permit any form of gambling referred to in the
preceding subparagraph to be carried on in inhabited or uninhabited place or in 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 malfactor shall be punished by prision
correccional in its maximum period and a fine of six thousand pesos.

(b) The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period or a fine of six thousand pesos
shall be imposed upon the maintainer or conductor of the above gambling schemes.

(c) The penalty of prision mayor in its medium period with temporary absolute disqualification
or a fine of six thousand pesos shall be imposed if the maintainer, conductor or banker of
said gambling schemes is a government official, or where such government official is the
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 period or a fine ranging from four
hundred to two thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any person who shall, knowingly and
without lawful purpose in any hour of any day, possess any lottery list, paper or other matter
containing letters, figures, signs or symbols pertaining to or in any manner used in the games
of jueteng, jai-alai or horse racing bookies, and similar games of lotteries and numbers which
have taken place or about to take place.

(e) The penalty of temporary absolute disqualifications shall be imposed upon any barangay
official who, with knowledge of the existence of a gambling house or place in his jurisdiction
fails to abate the same or take action in connection therewith.

(f) The penalty of prision correccional in its maximum period or a fine ranging from five
hundred pesos to two thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any security officer, 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 are being
held.

Section 2. Informer's reward. Any person who shall disclose information that will lead to the arrest
and final conviction of the malfactor shall be rewarded twenty percent of the cash money or articles
of value confiscated or forfeited in favor of the government.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. Provisions of Art. 195-199 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended,
Republic Act No. 3063, Presidential Decrees Numbered 483, 449, 510 and 1306, letters of
instructions, laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, city and municipal ordinances which are
inconsistent with this Decree are hereby repealed.

Section 4. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately upon publication 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.