ILOILO City — A police crackdown on gambling during funeral wakes has triggered calls to revisit the country’s anti-illegal gambling law, with an Iloilo City legislator seeking to distinguish traditional games that help grieving families from organized gambling operations exploiting funeral gatherings.
Councilor Johnny Young is urging Congress to reconsider Presidential Decree 1602, which penalizes illegal gambling, arguing that longstanding Filipino funeral traditions deserve a more compassionate approach.
His proposal comes amid intensified enforcement by Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño, who has ordered police units to apprehend individuals engaged in gambling during wakes.
Tuaño stressed that police commanders must strictly enforce existing laws, with no exemptions for provincial or regional police officials.
The directive followed the arrest of four individuals allegedly playing tumbo during a funeral wake in Leon, Iloilo.
Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Police Colonel Bayani Razalan acknowledged that traditional games help mourners pass the time but warned that monetary betting crosses the line into illegal gambling.
“There are people who play games, but only as a pastime or for recreation. It would be difficult for them to just sit there without doing anything. By pastime, there should be no betting. Once money is placed as a bet, that already constitutes gambling,” Razalan said.
He nevertheless recognized that proceeds from games during wakes sometimes provide financial assistance to bereaved families.
“Personally, I would consider it. The person has already passed away. Sometimes, the proceeds are also used for other purposes,” he said.
Razalan cited a previous case in Leon where a supposed funeral wake allegedly served as a gambling venue for months, prompting stricter police enforcement.
“We previously had a case in Leon, Iloilo, where the activity lasted for months. It seemed that the venue was being used as a gambling operation under the guise of a funeral wake. That was when we became stricter in the province,” Razalan said.
He urged mourners to respect the solemn purpose of funeral wakes.
“To our fellow citizens who attend wakes, let us not turn these gatherings into gambling activities. Let us treat them as a pastime so we can accompany families who are grieving. It is called a vigil because we are there to show our support and comfort the bereaved, while keeping those who stay through the night from getting bored,” he said.
Meanwhile, Young, in a privilege speech titled “Respecting Filipino Traditions: A Call for Compassionate Reconsideration of the Prohibition of Gambling During Funeral Wakes,” argued that traditional games should not automatically be equated with organized gambling.
He clarified that his proposal does not seek to protect gambling syndicates or large-scale betting operations using funeral wakes as fronts.
Instead, he wants lawmakers to recognize the cultural significance of traditional wake games and their potential role in helping families shoulder funeral expenses.
Young’s proposed resolution urging Congress to review PD 1602 was not immediately adopted by the Iloilo City Council.
It was referred to the committees on Rules and Games and Amusement for further study./PN