Councilor wants law vs scalpers updated

A Quezon City councilor has filed a measure that will raise the fine against scalpers and possibly curb the sale of tickets to events by unauthorized persons at steep prices.

Councilor Julienne Alyson  Rae Medalla of the fifth district has proposed amending to a fine of P5,000 or a year’s imprisonment the penalties provided for under a 1955 ordinance.

Under this ordinance, scalpers face a fine ranging from P10 to P50 or a jail term of five days up to a month.

A 1997 ordinance intended to specifically prevent the sale of admission tickets outside the authorized official booth, already provides similar penalties—a P5,000 fine and yearlong imprisonment or both—but does not describe the act as scalping.

Medalla said that the 1955 ordinance, signed into law by then Quezon City Mayor Norberto Amoranto, penalizes “scalping” or the selling or offering for sale in the city of athletic, boxing tickets or tickets for shows and other similar activities by persons at rates above their official prices.

Under the 58-year-old measure, violators are fined “not less than P10 nor more than P50 or an imprisonment of not less than five days nor more than 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.”

The councilor, however, pointed out that “these penalties no longer serve the purpose of deterring felonious acts and must be updated.”

The usual suspects

PO3 Jade Gabina of the Quezon City Police District’s Cubao station, agreed with Medalla’s assessment, saying that his unit arrests the “usual suspects” because they could readily afford to pay the fine and post bail.

The QCPD Cubao station has jurisdiction over the Smart Araneta Coliseum where a lot of  sports events, concerts and other entertainment shows are held.

Gabina told the Inquirer that after his colleagues started rounding up scalpers last year based on the 1997 ordinance, they have changed tactics and learned to skirt around the law.

“Now they transact with possible buyers through their mobile phones,” he said, adding that even if the scalpers get caught, they just post the P2,000 bail in the city prosecutor’s office and resume their activities.

“They have their ‘suki’ (loyal customers) and we have our very own ‘suki’ scalpers,” he said.

Gabina told the Inquirer that raising the fines to P5,000 and the prison term to one year and expanding the scope of scalping, as proposed by Medalla, was a very welcome development as it might help put a stop to the illegal activity.