PCG: Don't buy tickets from scalpers

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard has warned the public against buying tickets from the “scalpers”. 

PCG deputy commander for Central-Eastern Visayas region Captain Anelito Gabisan admitted that the scalpers have long been their problem at the pier.

If possible, according to him, passengers should not buy tickets from scalpers.

“Kun walay magpa ilad, wala say ma-ilad,” he said.

Scalpers are those who buy ship tickets in bulk using bogus names and would sell it to travelers, who are desperate to go home, at a higher price.  

Gabisan, however, clarified that going after the scalpers is not among their mandate.

He said the PCG’s mandate is only to see to it that there is no overloading.

According to Gabisan, going after the scalpers should be a police work and that the maritime police should be the proper agency to take action.

 “We consider that as a police matter,” he said.

They could only identify cases of scalping if tragedies at sea would occur.

“There has been no reported case where scalping hampered their operations,” he said.

 He added if such unfortunate incidents would occur, they have to check the official manifesto of the ship which will contain the names of the passengers.

 If there would be any signs of discrepancies brought by bogus names, then they would file charges against ship companies for allowing such irregularity.

“We will go after them (ship companies) for miss declaration of manifesto,” he said.

PO3 Crizalde Verdijo of the 701st Cebu Maritime Police Station told The FREEMAN it is very hard to catch and prosecute scalpers. “Lisod kaayo ang sitwasyon ug kulang sad ang mga ebidensya,” he said.

 He said that most of the complainants are shipping companies who are afraid to be sanctioned by the PCG. There is also no existing law which prohibits scalping. 

 In fact, according to him, the last case he new about scalpers was in 1993, which also did not prosper. “Kuyaw sad kaayo to kay wala ni mi tabang ang shipping company,” he said.   

 Verdijo said cases of scalping is seasonal as it only occur during peak season.

“Kasagaran nga mo-tumaw ni sila during peak season parihas karon,” he said. (FREEMAN)