The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hails veteran basketball coach Yeng Guiao and joins the entire Philippine sports community in celebrating the Supreme Court’s (SC) unanimous ruling ordering the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to remit the full amounts mandated under Republic Act 6847 to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)—a landmark decision expected to reshape the future of national sports development.
In a decision issued Friday morning that denied PAGCOR and PCSO’s Motion for Reconsideration “with finality,” SC affirmed its May 2024 judgment compelling PAGCOR to remit the full five percent of its annual gross income to the PSC dating back to 1993, and ordering PCSO to remit 30 percent of the proceeds of six sweepstakes or lottery draws per year—including lotto—from 2006 to the present. The balance due, estimated at ₱33 billion, must be paid over ten years.
The full bench voted 15–0, in a Decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
At the center of this decade-long effort is former Pampanga congressman and celebrated basketball coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao, who filed the petition for mandamus in 2016 to enforce Section 26 of RA 6847 after decades of under-remittance.
Guiao, together with PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez first broke the news about the landmark SC decision during a joint press conference after the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup semifinals on Friday night at the Philsports Arena.
Scope of remittances
The Supreme Court En Banc issued a comprehensive explanation on Coach Guiao’s petition, as follows:
- As to PAGCOR: The Court held that the law’s requirement to remit 5% of gross income is unqualified and not subject to deductions for franchise tax, national government shares, or other subsidies.
- As to PCSO: The Court clarified that “lottery” under the PSC law includes lotto, as it satisfies the three elements of a lottery—consideration, prize, and chance.
PAGCOR and PCSO had argued procedural and financial objections, including the hierarchy of courts and alleged over-remittance risks, but the High Tribunal ruled that exceptional circumstances justified its direct intervention, emphasizing the national importance of proper sports funding.
PFF President Gutierrez: “Now is time for PH sports to rise”
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez expressed his gratitude to Coach Guiao and his strong support for the ruling during the joint press conference.
“Coach Yeng, thank you very much… You know, I’ve been telling everybody that now’s the time for Philippine sports to be on the rise. Strike while the iron is hot. Because of the support of the PSC and POC now strengthened by this decision, I don’t think we’ve ever had more support from the national government than now,” Gutierrez said.
President Gutierrez emphasized that the Court’s decision clearly defines what should have always been available to Filipino athletes: “Because of Coach Yeng’s initiative, the Supreme Court strengthened it again. So again, for making it clear to all involved what should be available to our athletes—maraming salamat.”
Gutierrez assured the public of transparent use of funds.
“Makakaasa kayo—from the Philippine Football Federation, and I’m sure I speak for all other NSAs—that whatever comes our way in terms of financial support, makakarating direkta ’yan sa pagpapaunlad ng atletang Pinoy.”
Guiao: “Ten years in the making”
Coach Guiao recounted the long road to victory:
“Merry Christmas to the athletes and the sporting public in general, to our youth. We did this for the Filipino athletes, para sa mga kababayan natin. It’s almost 10 years. Actually, last year nakuha natin yung main decision, but the MR took almost another year. And now it’s final and executory,” said the former national men’s basketball team coach.
Guiao added, “kasi it’s a long, hard struggle. It’s been forgotten by a lot of people. But it’s a victory for Philippine sports… We have no excuse anymore. We can compete at a level where hindi tayo nakakahiya.”
He also thanked the Supreme Court and his pro-bono counsel, Atty. June Guzman.
“All of them—15-0. It’s really the PSC law that needs to be implemented. Let’s take care of the dreams of our athletes. Huwag nating nakawin yung mga pangarap nila,” Guiao stressed.
PSC Chair Gregorio: “Blessing for Filipino youth”
Chairman Gregorio expressed profound gratitude, saying: “On behalf of the men and women of the PSC, the POC, and all stakeholders, we thank former congressman Yeng Guiao. My message is: this money is for Philippine sports, and we will take good care of it.”
Gregorio outlined PSC priorities: athlete welfare—including food, clothing, training, foreign exposure, and top-level coaching; long-overdue facilities upgrades, including Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports Arena, which is currently eyed by Gregorio as the country’s “House of Futsal”; regional training centers nationwide; and major sports tourism events.
In response to a media question about the Filipino public’s stricter scrutiny of public funds in recent months, Chairman Gregorio stressed full accountability of the incoming sports funds:
“All eyes are on us. The Philippine Sports Commission law is beautiful—kailangan lang gawin nang tama. I was placed here because the [Philippine] President [Bongbong Marcos] knows we can take care of this fund. It is mortal sin if we do not use this money properly,” Chairman Gregorio emphasized.
Gregorio assured, “we will make sure na masasala ang pondo. We have corporate experience, government oversight… and monitoring. This is a blessing for the Filipino youth. And we will make sure it is well spent.”
PFF believes this ruling will significantly boost the development of football and all sports nationwide. With resources finally aligned with the mandate of RA 6847, federations will be able to build stronger grassroots pathways, improve elite performance systems, and bring long-term stability to athlete development programs.
“This is the dream of the next generation of Filipino athletes,” Gutierrez concluded. “And we will honor that dream.”
