NCRPO continues crackdown vs scalpers of UAAP tickets

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will continue its crackdown against scalpers of tickets of the UAAP championship series, after the police recently arrested 17 of them during the first game between the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines (UP) on Saturday.

“We will catch and arrest these scalpers wherever this series goes. I pity the students who want to enjoy a good basketball game and cheer for their school,” NCRPO chief Police Director Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement Monday.

The second game between Ateneo and UP will be held at the Araneta-Smart Coliseum on Wednesday.

“The scalper syndicate controls the tickets, and release these through their crooked salesmen at prices at least ten times the real value leaving the students at their mercy. Pitiful,” Eleazar said.

The Pasay City Police arrested on Saturday nine scalpers in the vicinity of the Mall of Asia Arena, while the Regional Special Operations Unit of the NCRPO captured eight more scalpers on the same day.

READ: 9 scalpers of UAAP tickets arrested in Pasay

Police said the scalpers were caught in the act selling VIP tickets worth P450 each were sold for P3,000, lower box standing-room-only tickets tickets priced at P350 were sold for P1,500, and upper box tickets at P200 were sold for P1,000.

Meanwhile, general admission tickets worth P75 were sold for P750, while other general admission tickets worth P50 were sold for P500. Upper box 417 coral tickets intended as complimentary passes were sold for P700.

Eleazar said he has already advised the Quezon City Police District to strictly enforce the anti-scalping ordinance during Wednesday’s game.

“That is why my advice to the unscrupulous people behind this scalping is to stop their rotten agenda. Let the tickets flow freely and regularly in the market. If you insist on continuing this abuse, we will trace you, arrest you and put a blemish on your record,” Eleazar said. /je