LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 717, June 30, 1978

[ LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 717, June 30, 1978 ]

TO: The Minister of National Defense The Minister of Finance The Chairman Commission on Audit

The Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines

The Chief of Constabulary Director-General, INP

The Commanding General Metropolitan Command

The Commissioner on Jai-Alai Affairs Games and amusement Board

WHEREAS, the Government is losing considerable revenues in view of the proliferation of illegally operated bookie joints;

WHEREAS, these revenues could be substantially utilize to benefit various charitable institutions and civic projects and other development-oriented programs;

WHEREAS, such forms of illegal betting and other pernicious activities have adversely affected the tourism appeal of the amusement games and have been found to be inimical to the up-bringing of the youth.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E, MARCOS, Presides, ind Prime Minister cf the Philippines, do hereby order the oration of Task Force "Anti-Bookies" to effectively combat and prevent the existence and proliferation of illegal bookie joints and other illegal forms of organized gambling on amusement games.

This Task Force shall be under the general supervision the Commission on Jai-Alai Affairs, Games and Amusement Board (GAB), who is hereby authorized to appoint and employ as many personnel as he shall deem necessary, at least two-thirds (2/3) of whom shall be drawn "on detail" from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Constabulary, Integrated National Police and other agencies of the Government. The Commissioner on Jai-Alai Affairs is likewise hereby authorized to make lateral coordination with government entities concerned.

The amount of P1,477,244.00 is hereby set aside fro three and one-half per centum (3 1/2%) special project allotment under Section 4 of Presidential Decree No. 810 dated October 16, 1975, as amended, to constitute the initial fund for the operation of the Task Force.

Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS President and Prime Minister of the Philippines