Presidential Decree No. 483 (PD 483) — Penalizing Betting, Game-Fixing or Point-Shaving and Machinations in Sports Contests.
WHEREAS, the evil that is gambling has again shown its ugly
head in the recently-discovered game-fixing or point-shaving scandals
during sports contests;
WHEREAS, one of the objectives of the New Society is the
development and promotion of desirable moral and cultural values;
WHEREAS, there is urgent need to protect our youth and
sports programs and the morality of our society, especially the youth,
from the eroding influence of unscrupulous persons who, through
fraudulent schemes of game-fixing or point-shaving and other
machinations, have made basketball and other sports contests, games and
races their media of subverting the aims and goals of true Philippine
sportsmanship;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by the Constitution, and pursuant to Proclamations
No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972 and No. 1104, dated January 17, 1973;
and General Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby order and
decree that the following shall be part of the law of the land:
Definitions.
SECTION. 1. Definitions.—For purposes of this Decree
the following terms shall mean and be understood to be as hereunder
indicated:
Betting.—betting money or any object or article of value
or representative of value upon the result of any game, races and other
sports contest.
Game-fixing.—any arrangement, combination, scheme or
agreement by which the result of any game, races or sports contests
shall be predicted and/or known other than on the basis of the honest
playing skill or ability of the players or participants.
Point-shaving.—any such arrangement, combination, scheme
or agreement by which the skill or ability of any player or participant
in a game, races or sports contests 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 therein.
Game machination.—Any other fraudulent, deceitful, unfair
or dishonest means, method, manner or practice employed for the
purpose of influencing the result of any game, races or sports contests.
Betting, game-fixing, point-shaving or game machination unlawful.
SEC. 2. Betting, game-fixing, point-shaving or game
machination unlawful.—Game-fixing, point-shaving, machination, as
defined in the preceding section, in connection with the games of
basketball, volleyball, Softball, baseball; chess, boxing bouts, "jai
alai", "sipa", "pelota" and all other sports contests, games or races;
as well as betting therein except as may be authorized by law, is hereby
declared unlawful.
Penalty.
SEC. 3. Penalty.—Any violation of this Decree, or of
the rules and regulations promulgated in accordance herewith, shall be
punished in the manner following:
When the offender is an official, such as promoter, referee,
umpire, judge, or coach in the game, race or sports contests, or the
manager or sponsor of any participating team, individual or player
therein, or participants or players in such games, races or other sports
contests, he shall, upon conviction, be punished by prison correccional
in its maximum period and a fine of P2,000 pesos with subsidiary
imprisonment in case of insolvency, at the discretion of the court. This
penalty shall also be imposed when the offenders compose a syndicate of
five or more persons.
In case of any other offender, he shall, upon conviction, be
punished by prision correccional in its medium period and a fine of
1,000 pesos with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency at the
discretion of the court.
When the offender is an official or employee of any government
office or agency concerned with the enforcement or administration of
laws and regulations on sports the penalty provided for in the preceding
Clearance for arrest, detention or prosecution.
SEC. 4. Clearance for arrest, detention or prosecution.—
No person who voluntarily discloses or denounces to the President of
the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation or to the National Sports
Association concerned and/or to any law enforcement/police authority any
of the acts penalized by this Decree shall be arrested, detained and/or
prosecuted except upon prior written clearance from the President of
the Philippines and/or of the Secretary of National Defense.
Repealing Clause.
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause.—Article 197 of Act No.
3815, otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, as amended, all
provisions of decrees, general orders, letters of instructions, laws,
executive orders and rules and regulations which are inconsistent with
this Decree are hereby repealed.
Effectivity.
SEC. 6. Effectivity.—This Decree shall take effect
immediately upon publication thereof by the Secretary of the Department
of Public Information at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation.
Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of June, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Section 3a shall be imposed. In addition, he shall be disqualified from
holding any public office or employment for life. If he is an alien, he
may be deported.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
