House OKs bill penalizing game-fixing

MANILA, Philippines — Voting 211-0, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the measure that will pave the way for the indictment of individuals who will be found guilty of game-fixing in any kind of sport.

House Bill 8870, which House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero (1Pacman party-list) authored, got the overwhelming approval in plenary. The legislation will cover both amateur and professional sports in the country.

Romero, president of the 54-member Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc., said the bill seeks to protect the integrity in sports, especially because there have been very enterprising individuals who want to manipulate results of contests to make money.

Under the proposed law, game-fixing is deemed committed by a syndicate if it will be carried out by a group of three or more persons, who all agreed to conspire for the sole purpose of committing the illegal act.

Once found guilty, a person will be meted with three to six years imprisonment, with a fine ranging from P1 million to as much as P5 million.

The penalty is higher, however, if the offender is an athlete, promoter, referee, umpire, judge or coach where the maximum jail-term is 12 years imprisonment, along with a fine between P1 million to P5 million.

If the violator is a syndicate member, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment and the fine will be a minimum of P10 million to a maximum of P50 million.