Senate panel mulls P50-M fine for personalities involved in game-fixing

A Senate panel is mulling to impose a P50-million fine for personalities who will be involved in game-fixing.

This was part of those tackled by the Senate Committee on Sports and the Committee on Games and Amusement as they looked into the proposed Anti-Game Fixing Act on Wednesday.

"Nagiging “pera-pera” na lang po ang labanan," Senator Jinggoy Estrada said during the hearing, according to Mav Gonzales' 24 Oras report. 

"Minsan, nagiging mitsa pa po ito ng mas karumal-dumal na krimen. We hear of at least one case of attempted murder due to game-fixing issues."

Senator Bong Go also cited a 2022 report from sports integrity firm Sportradar, with data saying the Philippines had 37 matches that were "deemed suspicious." 

Aside from the fine, the Senate panel is also studying to include lifetime imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from the sport as sanctions for those found to be members of game-fixing syndicates.

For Games and Amusements Board chair Atty. Richard Clarin, heavier sanctions would be a better deterrent for game-fixing.

"[The] penalty now is P1000-P10,000. It’s not a deterrent. With the proposed bill in the millions with perpetual ban from the practice of the profession and for government officials being banned from running or being appointed to office, I think this will really become a deterrent," Clarin said.

In addition, according to data since 2021, a total of 31 players have already been suspended due to alleged game-fixing.

The panel cited as one of the examples the controversial incident in the VisMin Super Cup back in 2021 where the players of a game were missing open layups and free throws, which led to the expulsion of the Siquijor team and suspension of some players of the Lapu-Lapu team.

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to those involved in the said game.

Rendell Senining, who was in the said game, explained his side of what happened.

"Pinapa-score lang kami," he said as he appeared virtually. "I was very frustrated. After first quarter, isa lang ata nashoot nila. Tapos 'yung nag-shoot pa sa kanila, yung player, pinalabas at di na pinabalik."

Senining was eventually cleared of game-fixing allegations.

The case of 47 players and coaches who were banned in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League was also tackled in the hearing.

Estrada also suggested giving referees proper remuneration to avoid being tempted to fix games.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News