9 scalpers nabbed for overpriced UAAP tickets

December 2, 2018

Authorities have arrested nine people for selling tickets for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Championship Game allegedly at higher prices, police said on Sunday.

National Capital Region Police Office Director Guillermo Eleazar said the nine personalities violated City Ordinance 192 or Anti-Scalping after they were caught selling tickets at around 11:30 am on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The game on Saturday was the first of the three-game championship series between the University of the Philippines (UP) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).

Arrested were Alfredo Molina, Michael Dino, Jhon Randell Guison, Edgardo Lacap IV, Antonio Borja, Alex Vinas, Rex Peral, Billy John Alturas and Alberto Manarang.

Eleazar said tickets sold by scalpers were almost five to ten times higher than their original prices.

"VIP tickets regularly priced at P450 are being sold by scalpers for 3,000 (pesos). The lower box SRO (standing room only) tickets priced at 350 (pesos) are being sold for 1,500 (pesos); upper box (tickets) worth 200 (pesos) are being sold for 1,000 (pesos); the general admission (tickets) priced at 75 (pesos) are being sold for 750 (pesos); the general admission tickets priced at 50 (pesos) are being sold for 500 (pesos); upper box section 417 coral tickets intended as complimentary pass are being sold for 700 (pesos)," he said.

"Most of the people who will attend the games are students. It's such a pity if students will have to pay 10 to 20 times the ticket value to watch, considering they live on measly allowances,” he said.

Eleazar assured the public that they will get those who are behind this illegal scheme.

"We will arrest scalpers anywhere this series goes. We may even get the masterminds. So, I am warning these opportunists, these syndicates, stop because we will get you," he said.

The crackdown on scalpers was implemented by Pasay City Police Station chief Noel Flores as many basketball fans from UP and ADMU flocked in the arena for the first game on Saturday.

Southern Police District Director Senior Supt. Eliseo Cruz warned that they would continue to go after these scalpers.

"Even our foreign embassy guests are looking for tickets and it's a shame that they can't get tickets because syndicates have cornered the tickets so they can sell at higher prices," Cruz said.

Flores added, "Let this be a lesson to the scalping syndicate. Stop. Let the tickets be sold freely in the open market."

The suspects are now detained at MOA Police Community Precinct 11. Ella Dionisio/DMS