Senator Kiko Pangilinan has called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to act against individuals and groups using automated bots to hoard concert tickets and resell them at inflated prices.
During Monday’s Senate hearing on his proposed “Anti-Ticket Scalping Act” (Senate Bill No. 226), Pangilinan urged authorities to “make an example” of violators to deter similar schemes.
“May digital footprints na ito. Meron kayong cybercrime division. So, ang challenge ko sa NBI, sampulan naman ninyo,” he told the bureau.
The senator lamented how bot-enabled purchases prevent Filipino fans from fairly securing tickets to see their favorite artists.
He cited Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour as an example, noting that tickets originally priced at ₱1,500 were resold for as much as ₱10,000 to ₱20,000.
Pangilinan emphasized that scalping may already be prosecutable under the Cybercrime Prevention Act if the use of bots is established.
“Yung pag-purchase ng tickets online gumagamit ng mga bots. So kung considered as cybercrime yun under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, meron kayong pwedeng kasuhan. Meron nang basis to proceed with at least investigating itong bot-enabled purchases,” he said.
He also called on ticketing companies and event organizers to strengthen cybersecurity measures, including stricter bot detection systems, purchase limits, and identity verification protocols.
“All the more na mahalaga na protektahan natin yung mga consuming public… Tapos mangyayari sila ay sinasamantala. It is oppressive and exploitative, and that’s why this hearing is being called. Kaya natin nais ayusin,” Pangilinan added.
Under Senate Bill No. 226, penalties for ticket scalping would range from a ₱100,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment for a first offense, ₱250,000 or one year for a second offense, and ₱500,000 or three years for a third offense.