Manila Rep. John Marvin Nieto has filed another bill for stiffer penalties against game-fixers in Philippine sports.
Nieto, kown in showbiz circle as Yul Servo, is the committee on youth and sports development hearing chairperson.
He said a substitute bill has been approved in lieu of House Bill Nos. 1226 and 5281, both aiming to redefine game-fixing, impose stiffer penalty, and penalize even mere proposal or attempt to commit game-fixing.
The measures seek to repeal Presidential Decree No. 483 of 1974.
Due to its limited applicability in the present time, Representatives Enrico Pineda and Michael Odylon Romero of 1-Pacman party-list introduced House Bill No.1226, while Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba authored House Bill No. 5281, to make anti game-fixing law more responsive to how fraudulent schemes have developed and being operated at present.
In a statement, Nieto said he surmised that scrupulous individuals and syndicates earn staggering millions of pesos from game-fixing, point-shaving, and game machination at the expense of the athletes and the games.
The old law could penalize only up to P2,000.
“Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit namamayagpag pa rin sila sa sektor ng palakasan. Ayaw po natin itong magpatuloy sa ngalan ng integridad ng bawat palaro natin gayun din ng ating mga manlalaro. Sa isinusulong po natin na batas, mas madali silang matutukoy at mapapanagot,” Nieto said.
The substitute bill provides that actual payment or receipt of money or valuable consideration is not a requirement to constitute the crime of game-fixing but it would be deemed a prima facie evidence of its commission.
If passed, the bill shall impose stiffer penalties on mere proposal, attempt, and conspiracy to perform game-fixing of up to P1000,000.
“Nakipag-ugnayan na po tayo sa Senado ukol dito at ang mga nasabing bill ay meron nang counterpart measures sa komiteng pinamumunuan ni Senator Bong Go,” Nieto said.
