The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the power of barangays (villages) to hold bingo games as fundraising projects without need of permits from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) or any national or local government office.

In a decision written by Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, the SC affirmed the right of Barangays Trancoville, Outlook Drive, and Military Cut-off in Baguio City, to hold “Bingo sa Barangay” events to raise funds for barangay projects.

The three barangays passed resolution on bingo games as their official fundraising projects.

During one of the events, however, the Baguio City police apprehended the barangay officials for alleged violations of Presidential Decree No 1602, the Anti-Gambling Law. 

Baguio City’s Association of Barangay Councils filed a petition with the regional trial court (RTC) and pointed out that the conduct of bingo games is a valid exercise of barangay authority. 

Citing PAGCOR’s charter, the government told the RTC that PAGCOR has the exclusive power to regulate gambling. 

The RTC ruled in favor of the barangays.  The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the RTC’s decision as it ruled that the barangays are authorized under the 1991 Local Government Code (LGC) to conduct bingo fundraisers for community projects without national or local permits.

A copy of the SC decision in the case of Republic and the City of Baguio vs The Association of Barangay Council docketed as GR No. 207118 has not been posted in the SC website.

In a summary of the decision, the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said the High Court ruled that under the Constitution, barangays are basic political units with local autonomy. 

The summary stated that the SC pointed out that Section 391 of the LGC allows barangays to hold fundraising activities, such as bingo games, for local projects, provided they comply with national standards on morals, health, and safety. 

It also stated that although the PAGCOR Charter, as amended by Republic Act No. 9487, grants PAGCOR the authority to regulate bingo games nationwide, it explicitly excludes games of chance, cards, and numbers authorized and regulated by local government units. 

“Here, the barangays’ resolutions authorizing bingo as a fundraiser were within their powers and outside PAGCOR’s regulatory authority,” it said.

Emphasizing the power of the power of barangays to generate local revenues, the SC declared: “Barangays must be empowered. To allow barangays to conduct ‘Bingo sa Barangay’ as a fund-raising activity for barangay projects without the need to secure permits from PAGCOR or any national or local office or agency is to breathe life to the constitutional mandate of the State to ensure the local autonomy of barangays. This is the duty of this Court."