OUTLAWING PINBALL AND SLOT MACHINES AND OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES AND NULLIFYING ALL EXISTING PERMITS AND/OR LICENSES TO OPERATE THE SAME.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 519
• Sections: 4

Preamble

WHEREAS, there has been widespread use of pinball machines

in amusements places all over the country;

WHEREAS, the proliferation of these gambling devices

adversely affects the moral regeneration program of the Government under

the New Society, especially the youth;

WHEREAS, it has come to my attention that there has been

indiscriminate issuance of permits and/or licenses to operate pinball

and slot machines and other similar devices to the detriment of the

public interest.

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:

Section 1

SECTION 1. Any provision of existing law to the contrary

notwithstanding, the operation, possession, use and importation of

pinball and slot machines and other similar devices or paraphernalia

used for their operation is hereby declared unlawful and any person

guilty of the violation of this Decree shall suffer a fine of not less

than five thousand pesos or an imprisonment ranging from prision

correccional to prision mayor or both such fine and imprisonment

at the discretion of the Court or military tribunal: Provided,

That if the offender is a corporation firm, partnership, or association,

the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or officers, as

the case may be, and if such guilty officer or officers are aliens, in

addition to the penalty prescribed, he or they shall be deported without

further proceedings on the part of the Commission on Immigration and

Deportation.

Section 2

SEC. 2. All existing licenses and/or permits for the

operation or use of pinball machines are hereby nullified and all

operators or possessors of pinball machines are hereby given a period of

fifteen days within which to dismantle or destroy such pinball or slot

machines in their possessions or surrender them to the Philippine

Constabulary.

Section 3

SEC. 3. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 23rd day of July, 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