Executive summary

Yes—an old illegal gambling case can still trigger an NBI “hit.” Whether the hit ultimately prevents issuance of a clean NBI clearance depends on the case’s true status (e.g., pending, archived, dismissed, acquitted, convicted with outstanding warrant) and whether the NBI database has been updated with the final court disposition. A hit does not automatically mean you have a pending case; it means the NBI must verify a record that matches your identity (or your name).

What an “NBI hit” means

A “hit” is a match in the NBI’s records (complaints, investigations, prosecutor and court cases, warrants, and convictions) against your name and/or biometrics.
Many hits are “namesake hits.” If another person with the same name has a record, you may still get flagged until NBI verifies you are not that person.
After verification, the NBI will either:
- issue your clearance with “no record” (or equivalent wording), or
- indicate there is a pending/derogatory record if one truly exists (e.g., active warrant).

Why an old case can still appear

Records persist. The Philippines has no general “expungement” law that automatically deletes criminal case entries from national law-enforcement databases after time passes.
Database lag. Even if you were acquitted, dismissed, or the case was archived, the NBI may not yet reflect the final outcome until official documents reach and are processed by the Bureau.
Special-law offenses. Illegal gambling is typically prosecuted under Presidential Decree No. 1602 (stiffer penalties for illegal gambling) and related laws (e.g., RA 9287 for illegal numbers games). These are special laws; the case records are handled like other criminal cases for clearance purposes.
Namesake risks. If your name matches someone previously charged with illegal gambling, you can get a hit even if you never had a case.

Case status and how it affects your NBI clearance

1) Pending criminal case or active warrant

Expect a hit that will not clear until the case is resolved or the warrant is lifted.
The NBI may annotate the clearance or withhold issuance depending on policy and the requesting purpose (e.g., employment vs. visa).

2) Dismissed or acquitted

You should be cleared after verification, but you may still get a hit every time you apply until the NBI database is updated with:
- the dispositive order (dismissing or acquitting), and
- ideally a Certificate of Finality from the court.

3) Archived, provisionally dismissed, or inactive

These can still appear as pending to the system. You’ll need to show proof of final disposition or take steps to finalize or lift the archive status, where applicable.

4) Convicted case without any outstanding warrant

If sentence was served and there are no pending processes, the NBI can still issue a clearance after verification. However, historical data can continue to trigger a hit; results depend on how the record is annotated in the system.

5) Juvenile cases (offender was a minor)

Records involving a Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL) are confidential under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (RA 9344) and related rules. In practice, this should not surface in a public clearance, but procedural safeguards still require NBI verification when names match.

6) Pardon, amnesty, probation completion

Absolute pardon removes penalties and many disqualifications but does not erase history; NBI typically clears upon verification of the executive grant.
Probation or suspended sentence completion and discharge should be supported by official documents to avoid recurring hits.

Illegal gambling laws in brief (for context)

PD 1602: Increases penalties for illegal gambling activities (e.g., jueteng, masiao, bookies, illegal casinos).
RA 9287: Further increases penalties for illegal numbers games and provides mechanisms for enforcement.
Charges under these laws are criminal in nature, so they populate the same ecosystems of records that the NBI checks.

Key takeaway: The type of crime (illegal gambling vs. something else) is less important than the status of the case and whether the NBI records have been updated with the final court outcome.

How to clear or prevent an NBI hit from an old case

Step-by-step

Gather court documents that prove the final status:
- Order/Judgment (dismissal, acquittal, conviction),
- Certificate of Finality, and
- Court Certification (if needed) confirming no pending matter or no outstanding warrant.
Bring prosecutor/police certifications if your matter ended at the prosecutor level (e.g., dismissal or no probable cause) and never reached court.
Apply for NBI clearance (online appointment + in-person capture).
- If your application shows a hit, you’ll be routed to Quality Control/Verification.
Present your documents to the NBI verifier.
- If they accept the proof, they tag your record appropriately and release the clearance.
Follow up for database update.
- If the hit recurs on future applications, politely request that your final orders be uploaded/linked to your personal record so it stops re-triggering.
Use consistent identity data.
- Always apply with the same full name, birth date, and, if applicable, note any aliases used in the old case so the NBI can consolidate entries.

Practical tips

Namesake protocol: If you’ve never had a case but keep getting a namesake hit, request a notation that you are not the adverse party with that case number; bring valid IDs and prior clearances.
Mismatched identity: If a past case used an alias, maiden name, or misspelling, tell the verifier. Provide any proof (old IDs, affidavits) so the NBI can map and close out the mismatch.
International/visa purposes: Some embassies ask for detailed police or court records. Keep certified copies handy even after getting your NBI clearance.

Data privacy and your rights

The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA) requires accuracy and allows you to seek correction of inaccurate personal data.
Law-enforcement records are generally exempt for certain purposes, but you can still request that final dispositions be reflected to prevent misleading results.
You may file a request/letter with the NBI attaching certified court documents to ensure the database shows the true, final status.

FAQs

Will an illegal gambling case from 10+ years ago still cause a hit? Possibly. Age alone doesn’t purge records. If it was dismissed or you were acquitted, bring the final order and Certificate of Finality so NBI can clear it.

If my case was provisionally dismissed or archived, do I still get a hit? Often yes, until it’s finally dismissed or otherwise terminated and the NBI receives proof.

I was convicted but finished my sentence years ago. Can I get a clearance? Clearance is usually issuable after verification if there’s no outstanding warrant and all conditions are satisfied. Expect the process to take longer the first time.

Do NBI clearances list the exact offense? Current practice is to issue a clearance after verification; detailed offense histories aren’t printed on the clearance itself. If there’s a pending matter or warrant, that can affect release.

Is there a way to make the hit stop appearing forever? There’s no “expungement,” but you can minimize recurring hits by ensuring the NBI database has your final court documents and consistent identity data. Namesake hits may still occur, but they can often be resolved faster once your record is annotated.

Action checklist (what to bring)

Government ID(s) consistent with your application details
Certified true copies of:
- Dispositive order (dismissal/acquittal/conviction)
- Certificate of Finality
- Warrant recall/lift order (if any)
- Prosecutor’s resolution (if case ended at prosecutor level)
Prior NBI clearances (if they show you were previously cleared after verification)

Bottom line

An old illegal gambling case can appear as an NBI hit due to persistent records, namesake matches, or database lag. The decisive factor is the final legal status of the case and ensuring the NBI has official proof of that status. Come prepared with certified court documents and expect to go through Quality Control the first time; once updated, future clearances are typically smoother.