Anti-scalping bill filed in House

MANILA, Philippines — As an offshoot of the intense competition between the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and Ateneo de Manila University’s Blue Eagles, a bill was filed in the House of Representatives yesterday to prevent scalpers from selling grossly overpriced tickets. 

House Bill 8694, or the “Anti-Scalping Act,” authored by Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin, aims to prohibit the act of buying admission tickets for an event in order to resell them at exorbitant prices.

“In the eyes of many, the profit that scalpers make is unfair. Event and sports organizers often try to keep ticket prices somewhat low so fans can afford to come to the events,” the opposition lawmaker – who is neither from UP or Ateneo – explained. 

Garbin, who took up political science at Bicol University and his law degree at Aquinas University – saw the need for such after scalpers sold P100 tickets to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball championship game for as much as P4,000 each over the weekend. 

He called for the nationwide implementation of an anti-scalping law, adding that “in some jurisdictions like Quezon City, they have a city ordinance against scalping.”

The UAAP game was held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Nine people were arrested for alleged scalping, which is penalized by City Ordinance 192.

8 more scalpers arrested

Meanwhile, eight more persons were arrested for scalping tickets to the UAAP game, bringing to 17 the number of  those arrested by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Alvin Castro, 41; Manrique Guelas, 53; Carlo Reyes, 34; Rodel Checa, 50; Aristotle Elizondo, 57; Victor Arenas, 52; Romeo Panopio, 45, and Ma. Helen Beatriz Ilagan, 29, were arrested in the vicinity of the venue.

NCRPO chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said the eight were caught selling P450 VIP tickets for P3,000 each.

Eleazar expressed hope that with the arrests, more tickets would be available to those who wish to watch the second of the best-of-three series, which will be held at the Araneta Coliseum tomorrow. – Non Alquitran