MANILA—Senator Francis Pangilinan pressed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to crack down on individuals and groups using automated bots to secure concert tickets in bulk and resell them at inflated prices.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, made the call during a joint hearing on his Senate Bill No. 226, or the proposed “Anti-Ticket Scalping Act,” with the committees on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and Finance on February 23.

He challenged the NBI to pursue cases against scalpers even before the passage of the proposed measure, noting that bot-driven purchases may already fall under existing laws.

“May digital footprints na ito. Meron kayong cybercrime division. So, ang challenge ko sa NBI, sampulan naman ninyo,” he told the NBI, stressing that the bureau could go after these scalpers pending the enactment of a measure on the anti-ticket scalping.

“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 stressed.

The senator said bot-assisted buying schemes deprive Filipino fans of fair access to tickets to see their favorite performers. His remarks come amid mounting complaints from the public over how major concert tickets sell out within minutes, only to reappear online at significantly higher prices.

He cited the case of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour, where tickets were originally priced at a flat rate of P1,500 but were later resold for as much as P10,000 to P20,000 due to high demand and scalping activities.

Pangilinan also called on ticketing firms and event organizers to strengthen their cybersecurity systems, including enhanced bot detection mechanisms, stricter purchase limits, and more robust identity verification requirements.

“All the more na mahalaga na protektahan natin yung mga consuming public—na they go to great extents to be able to watch and enjoy these concerts. Tapos mangyayari sila ay sinasamantala,” the senator said.

“It is oppressive and exploitative, and that’s why this hearing is being called. Kaya natin nais ayusin,” he added.

Under the proposed Senate Bill No. 226, ticket scalping would be expressly prohibited nationwide. The measure sets penalties of P100,000 fine or six months’ imprisonment, or both, for a first offense; P250,000 fine or one year’s imprisonment, or both, for a second offense; and P500,000 fine or three years’ imprisonment, or both, for a third offense.