Lim v. Pacquing, 240 SCRA 649 [Case Digest]

 

Lim v. Pacquing,

240 SCRA 649

Facts:

            Petitioner Guingona (as executive secretary) issued a directive to then chairman of the Games and Amusements Board to hold in abeyance the grant of authority, or if any had been issued, to withdraw such grant of authority, to Associated Development Corporation to operate the jai-alai in the City of Manila, until the question of constitutionality of P.D. 771 is resolved. 

 

Issue:

            Whether or not P.D. 771, which expressly revoked all existing franchises and permits to operate all forms of gambling facilities (including jai-alai) issued by local governments, was a valid exercise of the police power.

 

Held:

            Yes.

 

Ratio:

            Gambling is essentially antagonistic to the objectives of national productivity and self-reliance; it is a vice and a social ill which the government must minimize (or eradicate) in pursuit of social and economic development.