Ticketnet suspends employee allegedly dealing with scalper

Ticketnet employee is seen handing an alleged scalper a bundle of tickets in a photo taken by a witness at the venue. Photo from More Fun in DLSU Twitter account.

MANILA, Philippines – An employee of Ticketnet and Smart Araneta was suspended after he was seen in a photo circulating online handing to an alleged scalper an envelope allegedly containing tickets for the second game of the championship match between La Salle and the University of Sto. Tomas in the men’s basketball event of UAAP Season 76.

A statement by the Ticketnet and Big Dome management Friday said they have put the staff in question under “preventive suspension pending investigation of this incident.”

The Big Dome also said that it has coordinated with local authorities to go after scalpers at the venue in Cubao “to intensify the drive against scalping.”

“Scalping is a crime in Quezon City and we fully support the drive against it,” it said.

A picture of the incident Thursday was taken by a witness who was lining up to get a ticket. The witness said he saw the alleged scalper approach the Ticketnet employee after it was announced that there were no more tickets. He said he managed to take a picture of the exchange and posted it online.

The scalper who got 25 tickets then started selling them outside the Big Dome gates at P2,500 each, the witness said.

Scalpers have been known to be stalking UAAP games all season long, offering students and spectators marked-up tickets, especially on anticipated games such as the finals between La Salle and UST or in blockbuster matches like those of rivals Ateneo and La Salle.

The UAAP, meanwhile, enjoined the students not to deal with scalpers.

“The UAAP denounces the overpricing of tickets to Game Two of the UST-De La Salle championship showdown and fans are advised not to deal with scalpers,” the statement read.
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