Scalpers of sought-after UAAP tickets fall to NBI agents - TJ Agcaoili

An administration staff of the University of the Philippines (UP) and five others were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for “scalping” tickets during the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Ateneo-La Salle basketball match Saturday and the Cheerdance Competition Sunday.

Both events were staged at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Forty-one pieces of UAAP basketball and cheering competition tickets were confiscated from the scalpers.

Head Agent Arnel Dalumpines, NBI-Special Task Force (STF) investigator, identified the respondents as Ferdinand Glodoveza, 43, employee of the UP administration office who resides at JB2-301 Hardin ng Dona Aurora Street, UP Compound, Diliman, Quezon City; and Eduardo Sibuyan, 30, security guard, of 33 Miller Street, barangay Bungad, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

Also arrested were Arnel Mangalindan, 52, of 215 Interior Street, Project 4, Quezon City; Lito Oncines, 22, of Purok 4, Mipangi Nabunturan, Cumbal Province, Compostela Valley; Mark Toreta, 21, of Sto. Niño Street., Bago Bantay, Quezon City; and Elias Pena, 37, of 43-E Banahaw Street, Cubao, Quezon City.

Uniprom Inc., marketing arm of the Araneta Group of Companies, represented by security officer Joselito Hilario filed the complaint against the scalpers.

The scalpers were charged with violation of Quezon City Ordinance 493-S97 otherwise known as the antiscalping law. Bail is recommended at P2,000 each.

Dalumpines said they are looking at the possibility of connivance between several school officials and scalpers in the distribution of tickets.

The STF head agent noted that 80 percent of the tickets were being handled by the Araneta ticketing office while the remaining 20 percent is given to the eight member-schools of the league.

Upper Box A tickets priced at P150 were sold by scalpers for a minimum of P1,000 while Upper Box B tickets originally priced at P75 were sold for at least P750.

“Kapag magaganda kasi ang laban talagang litawan lahat ng scalpers sa area,” Dalumpines said. “Eh ang mga tao naman pumapatol na lang sa kanila.”

On Friday Uniprom operations chief Manuel Atacador wrote NBI Director Nestor Mantaring requesting the bureau to assign a team at the Araneta Coliseum.

Atacador said scalpers are apparent in the area and are not intimidated by their security personnel.

He added that security personnel in the area have already apprehended some of the scalpers, but they still continue with their illegal activities.

“We recently received word that these scalpers are supervised and financed by a small group of policemen assigned here in Quezon City,” Atacador said in the letter.

Acting on the complaint, NBI agents operated an entrapment were they posed as buyers. After a transaction, the operatives then arrested the six respondents. They are currently detained at the NBI jail.

*repost from http://www.yehey.com/uaap2008/full_article.aspx?id=224186
*repost from http://uaap71bball.multiply.com/journal/item/146/Scalpers_of_sought-after_UAAP_tickets_fall_to_NBI_agents_