Manila Jockey Club, Inc. vs. Games and Amusements Board

Facts:

Manila Jockey Club, Inc. v. Games and Amusements Board, Et Al., G.R. No. L-12727, February 29, 1960, the Supreme Court En Banc, Barrera, J., writing for the Court. Petitioner Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJC) filed a petition for declaratory relief in the Court of First Instance of Manila (Civil Case No. 31274). Philippine Racing Club, Inc. intervened as a party in interest. Respondents were the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and Executive Secretary Fortunato de Leon.

MJC sought a judicial interpretation of Republic Act No. 309 (as amended) and Republic Act No. 1502 so that (a) the thirty Sundays unreserved for charitable institutions under Section 4 of RA 309 would continue to belong to private racing clubs and (b) the six additional sweepstakes races created by RA 1502 should be run either on six of the twelve Saturdays reserved to the President or on other days besides Sundays, Saturdays, and legal holidays. MJC also asked the court to hold that the PCSO could not use petitioners' race tracks and equipment without consent nor compel such use under threat of license revocation.

Respondents answered and the CFI heard the case. On July 5, 1957 the trial court ruled that because the PCSO was using the premises under separate leases and paying rents, there was no deprivation of property without due process; the court held that the PCSO was authorized under Section 9 of RA 1502 to hold one regular sweepstakes draw and races once a month on a Sunday not reserved for the Anti-Tuberculosis Society, the White Cross and other charitable institutions, thereby reducing the number of Sundays allocable to private entities. MJC and intervenor appealed that judgment to the Supreme Court.

At issue before the Court was the placement of the six additional racing days authorized by RA 1502. The parties drew attention to the day allocations in Section 4 of RA 309 (as amended by RA 983) — a detailed distribution of Sundays, Saturdays, and legal holidays reserved for named charities, the President, and private clubs — and to the fact that RA 1502 increased the PCSO’s authorized sweepstakes draws and races from six to twelve without specifying the days on which they should be held. The GAB responded by reallocating six Sundays previously available to licensed private clubs to accommodate the PCSO’s additional races; petitioners proteste...(Pro-only)

Issues:

• Did the Games and Amusements Board have authority to reallocate the six additional sweepstakes races authorized by RA 1502 to Sundays previously available to private racing clubs under Section 4 of RA 309?
• May the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office appropriate or use petitioners' race tracks and equipment without their consent or by compulsion such that it would constitute deprivation of property without due process?
• May statements made by individual legislators during floor debate be relied upon to interpret RA 1502 as requiring insertion ...(Pro-only)

Ruling:

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Ratio:

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Doctrine:

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