TITLE 6
CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC MORALS
Chapter One. Gambling and Betting
Articles 195-196 have been repealed and
modified by PD Nos 449, 483 and 1602. Articles
197-199 has been repealed and modified by PD
483 and PD 449.
Gambling Laws Explained
Presidential Decree No. 1602 (1978)
PD 1602 creates harsher penalties for illegal
gambling activities. In 2004, Republic Act 9287
also amended certain provisions of PD 1602
increasing the penalty for illegal number
games and its implementing rules.
PD 483 ecognizes that sports and games
should be won or lost because of the skill or
ability of the players—if anyone manipulates the
game such that the result is predetermined, then
that’s game-fixing. P.D. 483 also criminalizes
point-shaving and game machination. Point-
shaving is similar to game-fixing, except that the
intent of the schemes is to deliberately limit
points or scores to influence the result of game.  inhabitants of the country in native dress and as
Tayson and Gianan vs People of the
Philippines
ISSUE The main issue in this case is whether
the petitioners' conviction for violation of RA
9287 as collector or agent under Section 3(c) for
Villamor, and as coordinator, controller, or
supervisor under Section 3(d) for Bonaobra,
should be upheld.
RULING the prosecution failed to clearly
establish the acts that constitute the offense of
illegal gambling as a collector or an agent, and
as a coordinator, controller, or supervisor. The
prosecution merely relied on the alleged illegal
gambling paraphernalia found and confiscated
inside the house of Bonaobra and not on the
specific overt acts that constitute the offense.
PD 449 or Cockfighting Law of 1974. PD 449
bans cockfighting on Rizal Day, National Heroes
Day, Independence Day, Holy Thursday, Holy
Friday, Election Day or Referendum Day and
during Registration Days for such election or
referendum. The law states that cockfights can
only be held on Sundays, legal holidays, local
fiestas, agricultural, commercial and industrial
fairs, carnivals, and expositions.
RICARDO L. COOTAUCO 
vs. THE HON. COURT OF APPsEALS
The courts have no authority to grant or cancel
permits to operate cockpits duly issued by the
municipal or city mayors with the approval of the
PC provincial commander. Under P.D. No. 449,
the power to approve or disapprove the
issuance of cockpit licenses by the city and
municipal mayors was reposed in the Chief of
the Philippine Constabulary.
Chapter Two. Offenses against Decency and
Good Customs
Article 200. GRAVE SCANDAL
* The elements of Grave Scandal was asked in
the 1996 Bar Exam
*Essence of Grave Scandal is publicity and that
the acts committed are not only contrary to
morals and good customs but be of such
character as to cause public scandal to those
witnessing it (2013 BAR).
Article 201. Immoral Doctrines, Obscene
Publictions and Exhibitions and Indecent
Shows - As Amended by PD 969
Note: Publicity is an essential element of the
offense. Mere possession of obscene materials
without intention to sell, exhibit, to give away is
not punishable under A. 201, considering the
purpose of the law is to prohibit the
dissemination of obscene materials to the public.
U.S. vs Kottinger, 45 Phil 352
ISSUE Whether or not pictures portraying the
they appear and can be seen in the regions in
which they live, are absence or indecent.
RULING We hold that pictures portraying the
inhabitants of the country in native dress and as
they appear and can be seen in the regions in
which they live, are not obscene or indecent
within the meaning of the Libel Law.
TEST OF OBSCENITY. The test is whether the
tendency of the matter charges as obscene is to
deprave or corrupt those whose minds are open
to such immoral influences and also whether or
not such publication shocks the ordinary and
common sense of men as an indecency.
Article 202 as amended by RA 10158 (An Act
Decriminalizing Vagrancy)
RA10158 decriminalized vagrancy. All pending
cases in vagrancy were dismissed and all those
serving sentence for vagrancy were released
upon effectivity of the law.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES vs
EVANGELINE SITON y SACIL and KRYSTEL
KATE SAGARANO y MEFANIA
Article 202 (2) does not violate the equal
protection clause; neither does it discriminate
against the poor and the unemployed. Offenders
of public order laws are punished not for their
status, as for being poor or unemployed, but for
conducting themselves under such
circumstances as to endanger the public peace
or cause alarm and apprehension in the
community. Being poor or unemployed is not a
license or a justification to act indecently or to
engage in immoral conduct.